The Office for National Statistics Mental Health in Children and Young
People reports that one in ten children up to the age of fifteen suffers
a mental health disorder, therefore possibly at least three students in an average class of thirty will suffer from anxiety - so is it fair that students don't have a say in their education?
Students are powerless regarding matters such as seating arrangements and having to speak aloud to the class, however are teachers of this generation trained to deal with students suffering with anxiety, or in the least - are they even aware?
Surely making a student with social anxiety sit at the front of the class or share their work out loud, only to find 29 pairs of eyes staring at them, will increase their anxiety and cause them to feel uncomfortable towards school?
Teachers and schools are made aware of the specific students with ADHD (Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder), nut allergies and diabetes yet alarmingly, not anxiety.
Ssome may argue that if students are allowed more of a say at school, it will cause them to hide away and become comfortable with not socialising with the rest of their peers, resulting in discouragement of facing their fears and getting better.
What do you think? Do you believe students should have a choice in matters such as where they sit in class or do you believe it will discourage them to face their social fears and make them worse?
Your right in saying that teachers are not aware enough of students with anxiety although if students are allowed to sit by themselves etc maybe theyll become antisocial...
ReplyDeleteNot only do they not notice the anxiety, but most of the depression that comes along with it, they don't notice if you look down or make sure it will be fine. The Physical Education Teachers that force you to wear the shorts and polo tops which reveal all of the cuts across your arms and legs making you, personally, feel uncomfertable, but they don't listen or notice the awkwardness. Teachers don't pick up on the quiet kids, only the miss behaved ones
DeleteThanks for your comments!
DeleteThe sad fact is that the 3 kids out of 30 is not a big enough problem for any school to feel the need to do anything. Kids with social anxiety need to be treated for such things outside of the school environment. I don't feel like it is a teacher's duty to have to deal with a child's behavioural/social difficulties. It is a parent's responsibility to see to the mental health and well-being of their child and ensure that their child is fit and ready to fulfil their maximum potential in school.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as somebody who has been diagnosed with mental illness, I do think that a great great part of it is just the kid growing a pair of balls and cracking on with it. I don't believe that catering to the antisocial tendencies and insecurities of the student will help in any way. I think it'd do nothing but feed the problem and encourage more of the same from the student in question.
Thanks for your comment!
DeleteOvercoming social anxiety is all about reconditioning yourself to feel certain ways in certain situations. What you have written is exactly the problem, not just within education but society as a whole. Without knowing about it situations are engineered that create mental scarring.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone understood this we would be conditioned to feel great and confident in all situations, rather than having to recondition ourselves to undo the damage that has been done
http://www.positive-changes-hypnosis.com/5-ways-to-overcome-social-anxiety/