So you raise a few interesting points, in these few short paragraphs. There are certainly a lot of problems in schools, however I would ask that you clarify which schools you are talking about, and learn about where they are located rather than blithely throwing all schools and their attendees under a blanket. But frankly, I would disagree with you on what the problems are in schools. I would list funding and the state of education as our biggest problems, and less so the attitudes of students. As to your next point, no one would ever defend a child saying such a thing. But you seem to think that this is a new pattern of behavior for children. Children have never been the respectful angels that you seem to believe their natural state to be. Children have always been snarky, biting, and rude entirely for the sake of eliciting a reaction from people like our esteemed author. Teaching morality is the job of all the adults in a child's life, the people that actually matter to them. The adults that a child respects will be the ones they listen to, and the ones whose behavior they will emulate. Act kind, and those that believe in you will follow. Act like a snob, or toss vague disdain at those whose lives and stories you know little about and well... we can see exactly how that behavior turns out. As for your last point, I don't know what children you've been around, unless you teach at the Children's Academy for the Rich and Pampered, because I have only ever known this behavior to come from the children of absentee parents who care little for their offspring. So in this, we agree. But I would get to know children instead of viewing them as this hostile unknown entity that you make them out to be in your essay, if three short paragraphs can be called that. But let's talk about being smarter than their teachers. In what scenarios? Again, your lack of context and specifics are a severe weakness in your writing, as I have personally witnessed incidents where I would give credence to teachers, or I would give credence to students. What needs to be fostered is a relationship between teacher and student of respect. Teachers should listen to and not discount the words of their students, and students are there to learn from the teachers. So, naturally, if a teacher comes across as arrogant, ill-informed, or dismissive, then I would certainly not expect respect from a student. There should never be respect simply handed to teachers, because of a title or position. That respect should always be earned.

I agreee with you. Its sad to hear someone "I don't care. Let him die."

I completely agree! In school my teacher showed the class about wats happening in other places..... and it is very sad..  i think the most belief kids here have is mostly "That I have my own life why should I worry about someone else's" It's just sadly like this in the world. Tv, music, ect. suport this idea and parents....  i think they love there children to much to do anything obviously they never heard the term "tough love" Oh well maybe in ten years to twenty years it will change hopefully for the better :/

Oops, meant to say "too many kids in developed countries"

Nicely written. It's so true, too. Too few kids in developed countries take their living conditions for granted. Not sure if I agree with you on the lack of respect paragraph, though. I'm don't think you can pin it down on parents not raising their kids right so much as it being a general societal thing. And you've gotta admit, some teachers are pretty stupid.