Twitter User Says Teachers Shouldn’t Force Anxious Students To Present In Front Of The Class, Sparks A Heated Discussion
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Remember the times you had to present on some topic or a book in front of your class? You know, those ten to twenty minutes of unease, fear and worry that something will go wrong or that someone will trample your vulnerable public presentation with a question you can’t answer because you’re too worried you’ll forget how words work?
Well, that feeling is somewhat universal, but it becomes a bigger problem for those who have inherent issues with anxiety. One such lad recently took to Twitter to propose that people with anxiety shouldn’t have to present in front of classes, pointing out that there are alternatives to how this can be managed, subsequently launching a debate online.
Presentations in front of the class are hard as it is and it’s even harder for those with anxiety
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A Twitter user by the name of Jordan (@bluexmasgcv) recently ranted that those who suffer from anxiety shouldn’t be required to present in front of the class.
Jordan continued that he himself was lucky enough to have a teacher who was understanding enough to let him present privately, thus reducing the amount of stress and fear involved in the process, but schools should seriously consider providing some alternative ways for anxious kids to submit their projects without getting their points deducted for being uncontrollably anxious during the whole thing.
So, this Twitter user suggested that schools shouldn’t force anxious people to present in front of class
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For those unaware of what it feels like to have an anxiety disorder, consider this: imagine feeling an unrelenting sense of dread and fear all the time because of being convinced that whatever you do has a high chance of failing and you will be punished for it or it will cause harm to you, spiraling down an endless hole of anxious intrusive thoughts that leave you drained pretty much all the time.
This is just the gist of what’s going through an anxious person’s mind. The experience may vary, but the feeling is uneasy and often unending in many cases.
This prompted quite a discussion amongst commenters. On the one hand, people were agreeing that forcing someone with an anxiety disorder is counterproductive. It may not in fact leave them with a sense of accomplishment and boost their confidence but rather break them down even more because they will not feel understood or empathized with.
The tweet thread sparked a deabate with people on one side agreeing with Jordan
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Others pointed out that there is also the problem with teachers simply not caring about the well-being of their students and responding with negative reinforcement like giving a bad grade or even yelling at the students for not presenting. This subsequently leads to even greater anxiety.
There were people who, however, disagreed with this. For one, public speaking is an invaluable skill that does actually reinforce in positive ways—the aforementioned self-esteem boost and empowering people to express themselves in proper ways are just a few examples.
Also, getting rid of the requirement for people to present just because someone has anxiety isn’t tackling the issue at hand—the presentation is a thing that the person perceives as the source of fear, but in reality it’s their own perception that is causing them anxiety, so dealing with this toxic view of things would be the effective way of dealing with the problem.
Others, on the other hand, disagreed as public speaking is an important skill to have
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Some even touched upon how things like speech impediments might make the issue even more problematic as, for the most part, people stress because of the speech impediment and they can’t get rid of it to relieve their anxiety when speaking in public to make their speech better, consequently putting them into a vicious loop that some teachers might not understand and still dock points for, further reinforcing the problem.
The issue is obviously nowhere near one-sided as there are many nuances and factors involved and more than one solution to the problem. However, regardless, it is important to consider that ignoring mental disorders is never an option as it is estimated that nearly 40 million people in the United States—18%—experience an anxiety disorder in any given year, and the wrong means of dealing with it may likely cause a rise in this percentage.
There were also people who pointed out how it’s even harder for those with speech impediments
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Here’s what the rest of the internet had to say about it
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The tweet drew quite a bit of attention, getting over 159,000 likes in just a day. The tweet was retweeted over 28,000 times with 3,500 quoted tweets.
What are your thoughts on this? Did you enjoy speaking in front of the class, or was it also overly stress inducing? Let us know in the comment section below.
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My shrink told me that the only way to overcome anxiety is to do the thing that makes you anxious... after enough repetitions it stops causing the extreme anxiety (granted taking "baby steps"). You will need this skill in your future. The real problem seems to be some of the teachers. There should a requirement to grade you from the level of your own starting ability and your own personal growth.
Good luck on overcoming your anxiety (or at least getting it to a manageable level)! I have a sister with crippling anxiety and her Dr is also doing exposure therapy and it's really making a difference. I feel terrible for the kids with anxiety, but looking at it from the teacher's perspective, they might feel like if they let one kid out of presenting, the whole class will claim to have anxiety just to get out of doing it. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but it is a factor. You're also right about it being a necessary skill... If you're applying for a job you can't request that the employer let you skip the interview because it gives you anxiety. I know the kids can't just "suck it up" or "get over it" because that's not how anxiety works... It's more than being nervous or a little scared. I think the kids with anxiety need to get into treatment. Exposure therapy doesn't work for everyone, but there are other therapies that can help get your anxiety to a manageable level.
Interviews in front of a couple of people aren't the same as public speaking and presenting to a room full of people. Simply not the same. A friend of mine is fine in interviews but she feels she is speaking more one-on-one even when there has been a panel. Also, not every job requires presenting skills. Some people are going to be sitting in the back rooms just quietly getting on with things. Anyone should get help with anxiety but even then it doesn't mean they'll ever be comfortable with public speaking and will choose a career where it isn't necessary.
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Chris Jones what
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Every last soul has anxiety. Are you strong enough to survive this life, or will you go on ssdi? If you're american..it's ssdi 😒🙄
This is true. Cognitive behavioural Therapy. Proven and it works. I've had anxiety and suffered from different fears but facing them head on makes you realize you can do it, and it works. Baby steps are key.
Tambot ?
"You will need this skill in your future" No, a lot of people never have to do a public presentation in their entire life, it's not an essential skill.
Vi. B. Good response!
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Absolutely and unequivocally false
You need a new therapist. There are MANY other ways of treating anxiety. Talk to a real psychiatrist. Exposure or flooding is only one of many, many, many ways and it's not the best for every person.
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Your shrink is an a*****e who has no idea what he's talking about. The desensitization training that he's talking about is a failure, and has NOT been recommended for the past 30 years at leas.
You may be confusing 'flooding' with 'exposure therapy'. Flooding is the equivalent of throwing someone into a raging river to teach them to swim. Exposure therapy is showing someone how to stick their toe in at the shallow end as many times as they need to until they are comfortable enough to put two toes in. The former is no longer done. Exposure therapy (also called 'progressive desensitization') is practiced all the time.
As an individual who went through hell to graduate honors with a psychology degree, you’re the one who’s wrong. Also your post is rude and condescending @AuntMessy
This is untrue. This is modern day psychology, and it works. Small steps are key.
You have no idea what you are talking about. This is normally used on children, but since you are acting like a six year old: If you can't say anything nice, don't say it at all.
I'm a teacher and I have dealt with my own anxiety issues, so I can totally understand when a student is suffering it. To overcome this condition is not a matter of will, as it's a mental disease. You don't tell people with a coldthat if they stay positive it eventually will disappear. It's the same thing about anxiety. So, what do I do when I encounter a student dealing with this problem? We deal with the fear. The first time they read a text we're alone in the room, even if that means no break between classes. If they feel con fident enough to do a presentation in class, I'll be by their side boosting their confidence. Speaking in public is an important skill, but some people take a little more time to achieve it and that's ok.
You sound exactly the kind of person pupils need in the classes - can we have you cloned? Honestly, forcing people to do things doesn't eradicate fear. It can cause people to be overwhelmed and worsen the anxiety. Dealing with something like this is a stepped process and can only be achieved with proper support and those who know who to help professionally. Parents and teachers should work together to find therapists for children with genuine and severe anxiety.
K Witmer, I never said I want to treat the anxiety. Being myself prone to anxiety attacks, I know how much knowledge it takes to manage this disease and I know I would be nothing without my therapist. I'm talking about understanding and adapting your practice to the student's needs.
Thank you for your words! I just try to ubderstand the students. I have no problem about speaking in public, bu I remember being a student and getting anxious in Sports Class, when we were in line to be evaluated. I try to adress that feeling the way I wish somebody would have done it.
Fair enough Lucas. I've had a bad experience w my daughter in school w all but one of her teachers that didn't try to single her out to help her. It made her much worse when u have too many trying to "help" each child is different and teachers should be following the child's doctors guidelines which we gave a copy to every teacher she had only one followed.its nice to want to help but too many cooks in the kitchen just make it worse I know from experience that's what I was trying to convey
I'm a teacher too, and while I suffer more from depression than anxiety and have never feared public speaking, I have to wonder if this shouldn't be an IEP or 504 accommodation? I know first hand how important it is to make allowances for the mental health needs of students, but just telling kids to present privately can't go on indefinitely without proper documentation to back it up. At least, not in America with the legal system and school bureaucracy the way it is. I know if I kept giving a kid a pass on presenting without at least trying to document in some form, I could get in serious trouble with my supervisors if parents called and asked about it. And if a parent doesn't want to let you provide accommodations or supports to a student, it can be damn near impossible to. Some years, with some kids, I get really torn between doing what's right for my students and trying to keep my job.
In Portugal it's possible. They even recommend it in the law, though most teachers don't do it. But we can evaluate students in different ways according to their profile and most parents agree with it. Some need more time to resolve a test, others need a private presentation, others do one task instead of the other. It's hard but I find it very good for kids.
Sara Diogo wrote "To overcome this condition (anxiety in front of one's classroom) is not a matter of will, as it's a mental disease." No, anxiety is *not* a "mental disease"; it's a mental *condition*. How many of the millions of men who were drafted or voluntarily joined the military over the past century alone, who had never before faced an officer shouting orders at them, or held a gun, or faced an armed adversary, much less had to kill them, likewise faced anxiety over the prospect? A majority, I would bet. Were they all afflicted with some kind of "disease"? Of course not! So how did they overcome those intimidating circumstances? Through training (or conditioning, if you will). So too, with students who fear presenting before their classmates. If my Quaker grandfather, who had never before touched a gun, could find himself battling the Nazis in Italy in 1944, and come home with a Silver Star for valor, kids can learn how to present to their peers.
Sara Diogo haha
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This is all well and good but your not a mental health care provider and in no way should ever take it upon yourself to doctor your students. That's insane and against everything psychiatrists therapists and psychologists suggest.
I don't see Sara's explanation as saying that she's treating mental health issues but rather providing a supportive environment. Reading alone, boosting confidence - that's just what a teacher should be able to do (but frequently can't or don't). You are right that no teacher should be undertaking a therapist's role but that's not what she's describing, at least not based on my personal experience with 5 different mental health experts.
This is so entitled I'm struggling to stay polite. The idea that students can opt out of a part of the class because they don't like it is insulting. Some people get massive test anxiety, should they not be required to take exams? I personally couldn't stand sitting still for more than 5 minutes (ADHD), but my teachers didn't let me get up and wander around all the damn time because it was disruptive to the rest of the class. Trigonometry gave me fits, and I had to do 10 or so hours of practice problems every week just to keep up, which SUCKED by the way. But I got an A. Doing things that make us uncomfortable is how we learn to tolerate discomfort. It's called LEARNING, and is the whole point of school. I mean, why go if you're only going to do the things that you're already good at over and over?
Never had to do this in school, no presenting of anything. We did have to read aloud but that's somewhat easier for most people as they're not having to come up with their own words. Of course it's different for those who have a stutter or dyslexia but then those pupils should be getting additional support. Anxiety is also not the same thing at all as being 'uncomfortable' doing something. I don't enjoy public speaking but I became proficient at it as part of my job - when you know your subject well it can help. I wasn't anxious though. School is about learning but they have to accept that those with additional problems should have additional support or a different approach. We can and should make accommodations.
I think not all cases are identical. When your anxiety causes you breathing issues to the point that you PASS OUT, maybe you should be allowed to be tested in a different manner.
@Robert Youdontneedit You just denied that their anxiety is real while confirming how your own makes you sympathetic. (calling it hypochondria? But you're just fine with PTSD, so they can suck it up?) I've got PTSD from some sh*t nobody should know, and you have no idea what those kids are experiencing. You're disdainful, and on their behalf, I call you out for telling them to "just deal", the way PTSDers are still often told to "just deal". It may not be *your* fear, but it is theirs, and that doesn' tmake it hypochondria. You may be informed, but you are not compassionate. IMO. Peace, out.
Robert, you should know then that it takes TIME to overcome anxiety (which should not be confused with hypochondria, which is different). Sometimes years. So while they're trying to overcome this trauma or chemical imbalance, should they be tested the same as those who don't suffer? You didn't get over it in a day.
Robert Youdontneedit, I just wanted to pass on my respects to you, for your endurance, your strength, your resiliance, and your ambition. I know you didn't have a choice in your experiences that lead to your PTSD, and I know you had no choice but to deal with it. But the way in which you chose to deal with the PTSD is highly commendable, and worthy of recognition. I am so sorry that you & yours were put in such a circumstance to begin with. I wish you only good things moving forward.
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It's a well-understood psychological phenomenon that people can, and do, "pass out" from hypochondria. IOW, they believe so strongly that they are in a situation that provokes a fight, flight or freeze response, that they hyperventilate and can faint. But that phenomenon in no way supports the notion that it's beyond a person's ability to control or moderate it. As someone who dealt with PTSD from witnessing a loved one's violent death, I know how debilitating stress-triggers can be. AND I LEARNED TO DEAL WITH THEM. If I can now handle being exposed to the same triggers that once made me flash back to the original trauma of watching them die, a student can learn how to deal with speaking in front of 20 of their friends. Anyone who suggests otherwise is uninformed about human psychology.
if you have good teachers, you can often come up with workarounds for things like this, and, respectfully, you don't sound like you have anxiety. the things that happen in an anxious brain and body are usually completely out of the person's control, e.g. panic attacks and stuttering. no amount of forcing or positive reinforcement will make these things stop; medication and therapy often can't stop these things either, they're just something you live with or manage. exposure therapy DOES NOT WORK for most things, anxiety included. i understand ADHD is also a serious issue, but it's on a completely different continuum from anxiety, and isn't handled in the same way. you having a hard time in trig is not the same as your brain literally shutting down due to panic. did you not see the tweets in this post about people who went and threw up after they had to present? that's not an okay thing. things that make us "uncomfortable" aren't always a test of how much we can tolerate.
I disagree. It's not always "just don't like it". For some people like me, I have mild presentation anxiety and get shaky, clammy, and my heart races for the duration of the presentation. For others, they have full blown panic attacks which can almost completely restrict breathing, cause them to throw up, feel like they are having a heart attack (literally, not as an exaggeration for heart racing, actual pain), etc. This crosses the line into a physical disability, don't you think? Exposure therapy for extreme cases should be handled by professionals who know what they're doing and won't accidentally cause more trauma to the person, not just some history teacher who says "get over it, you can't avoid this forever. That's the difference here, I think.
I admire your perseverance but I think you misunderstood a little...the issue is anxiety related to public speaking rather than unwillingness to learn / put the work into preparing a presentation. Someone with serious anxiety will be unable to deliver their work because they are so terrified of having so many eyes on them. You can't think and you can't control your voice, fidgeting, sweating, red face etc. It can feel humiliating and doesn't do justice to the quality of the work done
Any half decent teacher can get a sense of how their students are doing and grade them accordingly without abusing them this way.
Couldn't agree more and they should be reported if being abusive with a student due to severe anxiety. This behaviour can cause irreparable damage
Anxiety, as a word, is sometimes used loosely, which I can see makes the situation rather murky. :) There's normal anxiety, even moments of severe anxiety, in everyone. But anxiety, the diagnosis, is different. It means the chemicals in your brain aren't working right. Significant difference :)
Anxiety disorder is NOT just that they "don't like it." It's a serious and sometimes FATAL disorder. Educate yourself before spouting off ridiculous s**t like this.
So, being a teacher myself, you absolutely SHOULD get accommodations for test taking with severe ADHD like that. I have some students that I am required to allow to take tests in multiple sessions because they cannot handle one long session. The thing of it is though, if you're good at concealing how distressing test taking is for you then your teachers may not know to advocate for getting you a 504 plan or IEP, which are exactly what you need to be legally allowed these accommodations. It sounds like you flew under the radar. This is why it is so important for parents to advocate for their kids, and for kids to advocate for themselves. Teachers spend a lot of our days putting out fires and advocating for the most obviously troubled kids. We're not mind readers. If you have an issue that your teacher isn't seeing, LET THEM KNOW. They're there to help.
It sounds like you had some coping mechanisms :) without them we are a mess. I can see how you'd feel that way- there are degrees though, and some are not as well off as you. Especially if their diagnosis came late in life, or their parents refuse to let them have medication. The problem I think is more the technique of how the students are made to present, not the concept itself. Some may need to take baby steps and work up to it.
theyre not entitled. its not fair to force people to present in class if they get really stressed. and theyre not 'opting out'. they still did the work they just dont want to present. cant u have any sympathy or empathy or are you just an empty human being?
you just said something i dont AGREE with completely. TRY and put yourself in their shoes and imagine having to present when youre incredibly stressed out :I
Apparently, Mr Weasley, I am an empty, soulless human being who said something you didn't like.
It's not entitlement. I have social anxiety and I have since I was a kid. Presentations and recitals for band were an absolute nightmare for me. I got stuck in a speech class. I can write essays, speeches and research papers extremely well even almost 30 years later but public speaking is impossible for me. I can and do things that make me uncomfortable and always have. It's not being uncomfortable that's the problem. I'm sorry you had a rough time in school with tests but if you haven't experienced that kind and level of anxiety that this is about you're not going to understand. You come across very condescending and judgmental. I managed to make it through the whole term in speech with only having to give a couple of speeches and still passed with high As. It wasn't easy but that teacher was one of the best, most understanding teachers I've ever had. My anxiety disorders have only gotten worse as the years go by. Making a phone call paralyzes me now.
Evil little thing. You clearly don't know anything about anxiety. It is not about not liking something. It can be a serious mental health problem. And have you considered all the bullied kids out there? I remember how awful it was to have to have a presentation in front of my bullies. Presentations never helped my anxiety, but made it worse. You seriously cannot compare exams to presentations. Your ignorance is insulting...
Absolutely agree with you ELT. It's a skill that should be learned, like any other.
I suppose your struggle was unsuccessful
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My shrink told me that the only way to overcome anxiety is to do the thing that makes you anxious... after enough repetitions it stops causing the extreme anxiety (granted taking "baby steps"). You will need this skill in your future. The real problem seems to be some of the teachers. There should a requirement to grade you from the level of your own starting ability and your own personal growth.
Good luck on overcoming your anxiety (or at least getting it to a manageable level)! I have a sister with crippling anxiety and her Dr is also doing exposure therapy and it's really making a difference. I feel terrible for the kids with anxiety, but looking at it from the teacher's perspective, they might feel like if they let one kid out of presenting, the whole class will claim to have anxiety just to get out of doing it. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but it is a factor. You're also right about it being a necessary skill... If you're applying for a job you can't request that the employer let you skip the interview because it gives you anxiety. I know the kids can't just "suck it up" or "get over it" because that's not how anxiety works... It's more than being nervous or a little scared. I think the kids with anxiety need to get into treatment. Exposure therapy doesn't work for everyone, but there are other therapies that can help get your anxiety to a manageable level.
Interviews in front of a couple of people aren't the same as public speaking and presenting to a room full of people. Simply not the same. A friend of mine is fine in interviews but she feels she is speaking more one-on-one even when there has been a panel. Also, not every job requires presenting skills. Some people are going to be sitting in the back rooms just quietly getting on with things. Anyone should get help with anxiety but even then it doesn't mean they'll ever be comfortable with public speaking and will choose a career where it isn't necessary.
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Chris Jones what
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Every last soul has anxiety. Are you strong enough to survive this life, or will you go on ssdi? If you're american..it's ssdi 😒🙄
This is true. Cognitive behavioural Therapy. Proven and it works. I've had anxiety and suffered from different fears but facing them head on makes you realize you can do it, and it works. Baby steps are key.
Tambot ?
"You will need this skill in your future" No, a lot of people never have to do a public presentation in their entire life, it's not an essential skill.
Vi. B. Good response!
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Absolutely and unequivocally false
You need a new therapist. There are MANY other ways of treating anxiety. Talk to a real psychiatrist. Exposure or flooding is only one of many, many, many ways and it's not the best for every person.
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Your shrink is an a*****e who has no idea what he's talking about. The desensitization training that he's talking about is a failure, and has NOT been recommended for the past 30 years at leas.
You may be confusing 'flooding' with 'exposure therapy'. Flooding is the equivalent of throwing someone into a raging river to teach them to swim. Exposure therapy is showing someone how to stick their toe in at the shallow end as many times as they need to until they are comfortable enough to put two toes in. The former is no longer done. Exposure therapy (also called 'progressive desensitization') is practiced all the time.
As an individual who went through hell to graduate honors with a psychology degree, you’re the one who’s wrong. Also your post is rude and condescending @AuntMessy
This is untrue. This is modern day psychology, and it works. Small steps are key.
You have no idea what you are talking about. This is normally used on children, but since you are acting like a six year old: If you can't say anything nice, don't say it at all.
I'm a teacher and I have dealt with my own anxiety issues, so I can totally understand when a student is suffering it. To overcome this condition is not a matter of will, as it's a mental disease. You don't tell people with a coldthat if they stay positive it eventually will disappear. It's the same thing about anxiety. So, what do I do when I encounter a student dealing with this problem? We deal with the fear. The first time they read a text we're alone in the room, even if that means no break between classes. If they feel con fident enough to do a presentation in class, I'll be by their side boosting their confidence. Speaking in public is an important skill, but some people take a little more time to achieve it and that's ok.
You sound exactly the kind of person pupils need in the classes - can we have you cloned? Honestly, forcing people to do things doesn't eradicate fear. It can cause people to be overwhelmed and worsen the anxiety. Dealing with something like this is a stepped process and can only be achieved with proper support and those who know who to help professionally. Parents and teachers should work together to find therapists for children with genuine and severe anxiety.
K Witmer, I never said I want to treat the anxiety. Being myself prone to anxiety attacks, I know how much knowledge it takes to manage this disease and I know I would be nothing without my therapist. I'm talking about understanding and adapting your practice to the student's needs.
Thank you for your words! I just try to ubderstand the students. I have no problem about speaking in public, bu I remember being a student and getting anxious in Sports Class, when we were in line to be evaluated. I try to adress that feeling the way I wish somebody would have done it.
Fair enough Lucas. I've had a bad experience w my daughter in school w all but one of her teachers that didn't try to single her out to help her. It made her much worse when u have too many trying to "help" each child is different and teachers should be following the child's doctors guidelines which we gave a copy to every teacher she had only one followed.its nice to want to help but too many cooks in the kitchen just make it worse I know from experience that's what I was trying to convey
I'm a teacher too, and while I suffer more from depression than anxiety and have never feared public speaking, I have to wonder if this shouldn't be an IEP or 504 accommodation? I know first hand how important it is to make allowances for the mental health needs of students, but just telling kids to present privately can't go on indefinitely without proper documentation to back it up. At least, not in America with the legal system and school bureaucracy the way it is. I know if I kept giving a kid a pass on presenting without at least trying to document in some form, I could get in serious trouble with my supervisors if parents called and asked about it. And if a parent doesn't want to let you provide accommodations or supports to a student, it can be damn near impossible to. Some years, with some kids, I get really torn between doing what's right for my students and trying to keep my job.
In Portugal it's possible. They even recommend it in the law, though most teachers don't do it. But we can evaluate students in different ways according to their profile and most parents agree with it. Some need more time to resolve a test, others need a private presentation, others do one task instead of the other. It's hard but I find it very good for kids.
Sara Diogo wrote "To overcome this condition (anxiety in front of one's classroom) is not a matter of will, as it's a mental disease." No, anxiety is *not* a "mental disease"; it's a mental *condition*. How many of the millions of men who were drafted or voluntarily joined the military over the past century alone, who had never before faced an officer shouting orders at them, or held a gun, or faced an armed adversary, much less had to kill them, likewise faced anxiety over the prospect? A majority, I would bet. Were they all afflicted with some kind of "disease"? Of course not! So how did they overcome those intimidating circumstances? Through training (or conditioning, if you will). So too, with students who fear presenting before their classmates. If my Quaker grandfather, who had never before touched a gun, could find himself battling the Nazis in Italy in 1944, and come home with a Silver Star for valor, kids can learn how to present to their peers.
Sara Diogo haha
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This is all well and good but your not a mental health care provider and in no way should ever take it upon yourself to doctor your students. That's insane and against everything psychiatrists therapists and psychologists suggest.
I don't see Sara's explanation as saying that she's treating mental health issues but rather providing a supportive environment. Reading alone, boosting confidence - that's just what a teacher should be able to do (but frequently can't or don't). You are right that no teacher should be undertaking a therapist's role but that's not what she's describing, at least not based on my personal experience with 5 different mental health experts.
This is so entitled I'm struggling to stay polite. The idea that students can opt out of a part of the class because they don't like it is insulting. Some people get massive test anxiety, should they not be required to take exams? I personally couldn't stand sitting still for more than 5 minutes (ADHD), but my teachers didn't let me get up and wander around all the damn time because it was disruptive to the rest of the class. Trigonometry gave me fits, and I had to do 10 or so hours of practice problems every week just to keep up, which SUCKED by the way. But I got an A. Doing things that make us uncomfortable is how we learn to tolerate discomfort. It's called LEARNING, and is the whole point of school. I mean, why go if you're only going to do the things that you're already good at over and over?
Never had to do this in school, no presenting of anything. We did have to read aloud but that's somewhat easier for most people as they're not having to come up with their own words. Of course it's different for those who have a stutter or dyslexia but then those pupils should be getting additional support. Anxiety is also not the same thing at all as being 'uncomfortable' doing something. I don't enjoy public speaking but I became proficient at it as part of my job - when you know your subject well it can help. I wasn't anxious though. School is about learning but they have to accept that those with additional problems should have additional support or a different approach. We can and should make accommodations.
I think not all cases are identical. When your anxiety causes you breathing issues to the point that you PASS OUT, maybe you should be allowed to be tested in a different manner.
@Robert Youdontneedit You just denied that their anxiety is real while confirming how your own makes you sympathetic. (calling it hypochondria? But you're just fine with PTSD, so they can suck it up?) I've got PTSD from some sh*t nobody should know, and you have no idea what those kids are experiencing. You're disdainful, and on their behalf, I call you out for telling them to "just deal", the way PTSDers are still often told to "just deal". It may not be *your* fear, but it is theirs, and that doesn' tmake it hypochondria. You may be informed, but you are not compassionate. IMO. Peace, out.
Robert, you should know then that it takes TIME to overcome anxiety (which should not be confused with hypochondria, which is different). Sometimes years. So while they're trying to overcome this trauma or chemical imbalance, should they be tested the same as those who don't suffer? You didn't get over it in a day.
Robert Youdontneedit, I just wanted to pass on my respects to you, for your endurance, your strength, your resiliance, and your ambition. I know you didn't have a choice in your experiences that lead to your PTSD, and I know you had no choice but to deal with it. But the way in which you chose to deal with the PTSD is highly commendable, and worthy of recognition. I am so sorry that you & yours were put in such a circumstance to begin with. I wish you only good things moving forward.
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It's a well-understood psychological phenomenon that people can, and do, "pass out" from hypochondria. IOW, they believe so strongly that they are in a situation that provokes a fight, flight or freeze response, that they hyperventilate and can faint. But that phenomenon in no way supports the notion that it's beyond a person's ability to control or moderate it. As someone who dealt with PTSD from witnessing a loved one's violent death, I know how debilitating stress-triggers can be. AND I LEARNED TO DEAL WITH THEM. If I can now handle being exposed to the same triggers that once made me flash back to the original trauma of watching them die, a student can learn how to deal with speaking in front of 20 of their friends. Anyone who suggests otherwise is uninformed about human psychology.
if you have good teachers, you can often come up with workarounds for things like this, and, respectfully, you don't sound like you have anxiety. the things that happen in an anxious brain and body are usually completely out of the person's control, e.g. panic attacks and stuttering. no amount of forcing or positive reinforcement will make these things stop; medication and therapy often can't stop these things either, they're just something you live with or manage. exposure therapy DOES NOT WORK for most things, anxiety included. i understand ADHD is also a serious issue, but it's on a completely different continuum from anxiety, and isn't handled in the same way. you having a hard time in trig is not the same as your brain literally shutting down due to panic. did you not see the tweets in this post about people who went and threw up after they had to present? that's not an okay thing. things that make us "uncomfortable" aren't always a test of how much we can tolerate.
I disagree. It's not always "just don't like it". For some people like me, I have mild presentation anxiety and get shaky, clammy, and my heart races for the duration of the presentation. For others, they have full blown panic attacks which can almost completely restrict breathing, cause them to throw up, feel like they are having a heart attack (literally, not as an exaggeration for heart racing, actual pain), etc. This crosses the line into a physical disability, don't you think? Exposure therapy for extreme cases should be handled by professionals who know what they're doing and won't accidentally cause more trauma to the person, not just some history teacher who says "get over it, you can't avoid this forever. That's the difference here, I think.
I admire your perseverance but I think you misunderstood a little...the issue is anxiety related to public speaking rather than unwillingness to learn / put the work into preparing a presentation. Someone with serious anxiety will be unable to deliver their work because they are so terrified of having so many eyes on them. You can't think and you can't control your voice, fidgeting, sweating, red face etc. It can feel humiliating and doesn't do justice to the quality of the work done
Any half decent teacher can get a sense of how their students are doing and grade them accordingly without abusing them this way.
Couldn't agree more and they should be reported if being abusive with a student due to severe anxiety. This behaviour can cause irreparable damage
Anxiety, as a word, is sometimes used loosely, which I can see makes the situation rather murky. :) There's normal anxiety, even moments of severe anxiety, in everyone. But anxiety, the diagnosis, is different. It means the chemicals in your brain aren't working right. Significant difference :)
Anxiety disorder is NOT just that they "don't like it." It's a serious and sometimes FATAL disorder. Educate yourself before spouting off ridiculous s**t like this.
So, being a teacher myself, you absolutely SHOULD get accommodations for test taking with severe ADHD like that. I have some students that I am required to allow to take tests in multiple sessions because they cannot handle one long session. The thing of it is though, if you're good at concealing how distressing test taking is for you then your teachers may not know to advocate for getting you a 504 plan or IEP, which are exactly what you need to be legally allowed these accommodations. It sounds like you flew under the radar. This is why it is so important for parents to advocate for their kids, and for kids to advocate for themselves. Teachers spend a lot of our days putting out fires and advocating for the most obviously troubled kids. We're not mind readers. If you have an issue that your teacher isn't seeing, LET THEM KNOW. They're there to help.
It sounds like you had some coping mechanisms :) without them we are a mess. I can see how you'd feel that way- there are degrees though, and some are not as well off as you. Especially if their diagnosis came late in life, or their parents refuse to let them have medication. The problem I think is more the technique of how the students are made to present, not the concept itself. Some may need to take baby steps and work up to it.
theyre not entitled. its not fair to force people to present in class if they get really stressed. and theyre not 'opting out'. they still did the work they just dont want to present. cant u have any sympathy or empathy or are you just an empty human being?
you just said something i dont AGREE with completely. TRY and put yourself in their shoes and imagine having to present when youre incredibly stressed out :I
Apparently, Mr Weasley, I am an empty, soulless human being who said something you didn't like.
It's not entitlement. I have social anxiety and I have since I was a kid. Presentations and recitals for band were an absolute nightmare for me. I got stuck in a speech class. I can write essays, speeches and research papers extremely well even almost 30 years later but public speaking is impossible for me. I can and do things that make me uncomfortable and always have. It's not being uncomfortable that's the problem. I'm sorry you had a rough time in school with tests but if you haven't experienced that kind and level of anxiety that this is about you're not going to understand. You come across very condescending and judgmental. I managed to make it through the whole term in speech with only having to give a couple of speeches and still passed with high As. It wasn't easy but that teacher was one of the best, most understanding teachers I've ever had. My anxiety disorders have only gotten worse as the years go by. Making a phone call paralyzes me now.
Evil little thing. You clearly don't know anything about anxiety. It is not about not liking something. It can be a serious mental health problem. And have you considered all the bullied kids out there? I remember how awful it was to have to have a presentation in front of my bullies. Presentations never helped my anxiety, but made it worse. You seriously cannot compare exams to presentations. Your ignorance is insulting...
Absolutely agree with you ELT. It's a skill that should be learned, like any other.
I suppose your struggle was unsuccessful
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