Puzzled by destructive behaviour

[fklps]

Is it only in my school or is this a widespread issue?

In my current secondary school, students of all ages from Y7 to Y11 have adopted this weird pattern of destroying their own pens, rulers, etc. There is not a single day when there aren't scattered pieces of pen on the floor or scattered pieces of rulers, etc.

I don't understand where this is coming from. Is it the constant use of mobile phones that have made students more fidgety?

It freaks me out to honest and also makes me mad as my school provides a lot of equipment to the students.

You’re not alone. I’ve noticed it too.

Just part of the growing lack of respect for anything related to school. I gave up buying pens in the end and if they didn’t have one that was their issue.

I noticed this in my last school. Not just their own equipment but mine too. Also disregard for their own expensive items like mobile phones and uniform etc. A lot of it is poor parenting.

What about drawing in hands?

This is new since I started 25 years ago. It's so weird so many student have dirty hands all the time

Covered in ink but also grimly dirty!

This, and destruction of the school building. At one point we had one functioning boys toilet. Doors ripped off, sinks pulled out of the wall. A parents laughed at me when I phoned home because their child had destroyed a pen they had borrowed from me.

What about drawing in hands?

I think this comes from tattoos, tbh. They see so many people and celebs with tats and that is their attempt at emulating.

With pens I might lend one only. In situations where breaking pens is commonplace I might go for pencils. They get broken too but the aftermath doesn’t ruin TAs clothes.