From Beatings to No Consequences - A Generalization and a Sentiment

I am just wondering how the same generation of teachers who used to beat students from the ‘70s through the ‘90s are now administrators who do not give children any sort of consequences for their actions.

I’m employed part time, but have a teaching degree and license, and I’ve worked in several schools across many districts and a couple states. I’ve noticed that kids are often sent back to the classroom without consequences after extremely disruptive — and frankly, obnoxious — behavior. I have witnessed multiple kids who do not have an IEP return to the classroom with fidgets and pop-its after a trip to the office, in which the severity of the behavior was communicated. I’m all for accessible education practices, but sending students back to class with an item in their hand and no phone call home is a *reward*. That’s basic psychology.

I have also witnessed students sitting upside down in their seat during math (but it’s okay because they’re in their “box”, a boundary defined by the teacher and admin that the student must remain in). IEP or not, that is not okay. It is disruptive to the entire class, the student, and the teacher. I’ve seen kids springing, crawling, and even in one instance using teacher rolling chairs in the halls without adult supervision, but somehow received the chair with adult permission.

This ramble is mostly just a way to blow off steam, but I am genuinely concerned for this generation. Lack of consequences is lack of education, and we are holding these kids back by not enforcing boundaries. Behaviors and lack of consequences, from admin or parents, a large reason why I am avoiding full time work in public schools at this moment. It’s ridiculous, and no one can function this way.

So what do you think? How did one of the generations of that praised corporal punishment and public shaming end up enforcing no boundaries?