Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t let kids in my office speak in certain ways, much less bully another in front of me. My rules are simple. Kids can express whatever feelings they want, but they can’t swear, be mean or rude, and they can’t wreck my stuff. Other than that, they have quite a bit of latitude.

It worked for my own kids and for 26 years, it’s worked with my patients (well, most of them.) I have made kids leave my exam room for being rude to me or their parents. I have kicked them out of my practice and once (with a mother’s permission) I spanked a youngster. Yup. He spit on me, and his mother did nothing. So I did.

I realize that schools aren’t private offices like mine, but I do believe that there is an increasing tone of disrespect in and around schools. And not just toward other students, but against the faculty as well. It’s not just the troubled kids who mouth off at teachers, either. Often it’s the kids whose parents are involved, highly motivated, and privileged. Many kids are taught that they have the right to “challenge” teachers at every turn.

Most…