I question the conclusion. It’s not the death of authority. It’s the death of responsibility. In all of the cited cases the authority isn’t gone it’s simply been pushed higher up the food chain. The students aren’t taught responsibility nor are they held responsible for their actions and the teachers responibility has been taken away.
Yours is a fair point.
Perhaps the death of authority “as we know it” is a more appropriate angle.
However, in the cases I cited, the authority - as it always was - has seemingly died, replaced with a more feminized, less-authoritative variation. The lack of responsibility being instilled in students or the lack of accountability, I believe, are the symptoms of dying authority. When boundaries become clouded, kids will adjust accordingly.
There have always been children who are disruptive and break the rules. The “softening” of school authority over time has only encouraged that ensuing irresponsibility.
Thanks much for your post!