"Inability to punish students, lack of respect"

When I was growing up in Texas, most teachers had a wooden paddle, often prominently displayed. To be spanked by a paddle was called "getting licks". Female teachers would sometimes delegate the paddling to a coach or other male teacher. Most all this that I recall occurred in Junior High (what they now call middle school. Grades 7-9). By high school, "licks" were quite rare, as most students had learned how to behave better by then.

To people today this all sounds barbaric. However, there were far fewer "broken people" coming out of that system than is produced today. That generation was not filled with sociopaths and 'challenged" people -- quite the opposite. It's the system today that produces those. Lack of ability to administer punishment is part of why teachers get so little respect.

The past 2 years was very revealing as to how our modern public schools are failing today. It's embarrassing, and I understand and support the moves many parents are making to private or home schooling.