I’m a little more than 20 years in, and feel the gap between me and the kids growing, too. It’s a real shift from being the “fun, young” teacher to somebody who could be their parent. And I no longer understand the references, the culture, the technology, etc.

Part of this is just the age gap, and I am sure it has happened to generations of teachers. In many ways, it’s natural and good. There’s a role for the older teacher who’s out of step with the fads but has seen it all and has some time-tested wisdom to share. I liked the teachers who were like that when I was in school.

But I think I’m sensing something else, too — a lack of human connection. I often wonder whether spending so much time in the virtual world makes it difficult for my students to treat the real world seriously. Sometimes I wonder whether they really understand that I’m a human being in the same room with them rather than just another entertainment on a screen.