Rude and Entitled - Is it my fault?
I've been teaching for many, many years. As a student, being respectful was the norm (at least for me) and I always followed the syllabus and took ownership of my errors. Lately, students seem to be ruder and more entitled than usual. I blame a lot of stupidity (questions they can easily get the answer to like, what assignment is due next class or when are office hours?) on COVID and the amount of hand holding students received by most/ all teachers (including by me). But lately, they seem to expect that they will get the grade they want without the work. I'm not an easy grader (I am fair and you will learn, but I do not just give a check plus for a submission) and I do expect assignments submitted in a particular way that I explain. I also think late work is idiotic (what is the difference between a deadline on Tuesday or on Thursday?), and everything is laid out in the syllabus. Lately, however, students are getting upset because they miss assignments and don't submit things on time, or they mess up instructions I have shared, or they are angry they didn't get the grade they think they should have. I get yelled at through email, lied to my face, and treated like sh*t by students who messed up on their own.
I'm starting to wonder if either a) others feel similarly, or b) I should change careers. I am so sick and tired of being yelled at, lied to, threatened that they will file a complaint for something that is THEIR fault and I know will just be a nuisance but not an issue for me. I also am sick of not caring for the struggles they are going through but I am so tired of hearing how they are struggling due to anxiety and depression (who isn't?) and that's why they deserve special treatment.
What advice to other professors have? Hopefully you aren't being yelled at and treated so poorly. I teach at a CA community college if that matters. TIA!