[CottonBall]

But what about the train crew on the Comet? Profit is not a part of their world, but look at their behavior. This is a different kind of rot, and it shows up again and again in the book.

I've seen this attitude while (very briefly) teaching. The book uses the word 'indifference' in the first chapter many times. That's exactly what I found most teachers to be. The young, new, and excited ones, IMO, eventually also become indifferent because the socialist atmosphere in schools is stifling. The pay will be the same no matter how hard or how little one works, adminstration typically couldn't care less about academics as long as no waves are created, and a teacher coaching a sport is considered much more important than one that can, say, teach physics or calculus extremely well.

[Publius]

I've seen this attitude while (very briefly) teaching.

Good comparison.

But what about the students? Don't you see the same thing? Are all students excited and ready to learn? Or are many there because they have to be and are just marking time, considering their school time akin to prison time?

Isn't there some rot there?

[Scotswife]

” and a teacher coaching a sport is considered much more important than one that can, say, teach physics or calculus extremely well.”

a personal observation I’ve noticed regarding coaching and teachers.
There are some teachers who coach for the extra pay = you can tell right away by the quality of their team and win-loss record.

Then there are teachers who coach because they enjoy the kids - the athletics, and that particular sport.
Excellent coaches are usually excellent teachers too - and they have the respect of the kids when they are good at both.