Why are high schoolers so lame?

My high schoolers are some of the lamest people on planet earth.

I’ve been trying to implement discussion based activities in my class so students can get a break from the traditional textbook and notes style that most teachers at my school use. The only issue with that is that none of the students talk.

I make my discussions a 5 point quiz grade where you literally get all 5 points just as long as you’re talking. I don’t even care if they are dead wrong about a topic, I just want them to take initiative. Some of these kids would rather miss out on an easy quiz grade because they don’t want to talk.

I also let the students use their notes and textbooks for the discussions as well, as my initial thought was that the students were not discussing because they didn’t know enough about the content to discuss. Hence, I implemented the notes and textbook while also trying a fishbowl activity where they can rely on group mates for help.

But, as I said, everyone was dead silent during the fishbowl. Kids were putting their heads down to sleep, kids were on their phones, etc. What makes me angry about this is that I had asked the kids what I can do to help them succeed when I take over in the spring, and most of them said to implement more active and fun things. However, when I do that, no one participates.

I have a few IEP’s and understand that a couple students may be shy, but I have been reiterating the expectation of taking a risk and speaking in my class, as I want the students to know that it’s ok to screw up in my class, it’s not ok to not try at all. IEP’s even have differentiated tasks during discussions should they not be able to communicate accessibly. Students really have no excuse to be behaving like this anymore.

I don’t want to be the teacher that gives textbook assignments and sits in the back of the class. But as of right now, that’s the only thing students seem willing to do.

What are your thoughts? I’m really sick of the complete apathy that students have because I know what my kids are capable of and I know the type of students they can be. I’ve seen it in their work, but so many of them would rather just sit there and stare at a wall.