When school began centuries ago, kids were thrilled to have the opportunity to learn in a classroom with their peers. In those early days, the education system was a bit of a hodge-podge, even more than today, without standardization, a student’s quality of education was very much dependent on the school and the master. Gradually, school systems and rules firmed-up, and evolved. This also holds true for school discipline. While some disciplinary tools are no longer used i.e. the cane, others have been put in their place, such as detention, threats of suspension and serious consequences when failing to meet curriculum expectations.
Ideally, schools are a positive place of opportunity, socialising, and learning. But studies are emerging that show that the pressures of the school environment are causing anxiety in children and reluctance to attend. School anxiety can affect students from preschool all the way up to high school. School refusal affects between 2% to 5% of school-age children who are affected by school anxiety and the looming fear of going to school.
While some schools say that anxiety is a problem caused by tough parenting or social media, we need to ask, how much anxiety is driven by the school system itself? Where did school as we know it come from?
The concept of a school has existed for thousands of years, going right back to ancient Greece. These schools were only for males and were more focused on teaching useful skills of the time such as philosophy and rhetoric (speaking). In ancient Rome, it was popular to hire a home-based tutor. Eventually this transitioned to larger groups of students to encourage social community.
The modern school system as we know it was supposedly created by an American named Horace Mann. He believed school should be available to all, funded by the taxpayer and taught by teachers who had undergone the same standardized training. The purpose of school was to teach young individuals how to learn, educate them on a range of topics and prepare them for the working world. To go alongside these goals, a range of tests and exams were constructed. While it would be great if kids could attend school without being constantly graded, it would be hard to know if they had learnt anything at all, and it might cause them to lack the motivation to challenge themselves.
Have schools become the problem?
While schools provide immense opportunities to develop skills, has the system evolved at the expense of mental health? Deadlines, performance pressures, rules and homework are some of the factors affecting students in New Zealand. These findings were from an Education Ministry study which asked student’s questions on how they wanted schools to care for them. The survey in New Zealand found that two-thirds of high school students stated that stress and anxiety were a barrier to performing well in exams. They also found that students were not motivated, with some saying they did not think school topics were preparing them for the real-world. A separate study from New York University discovered that almost half (49%) of all students reported experiencing a large amount of daily stress from attending school [1].
Schools create many demands which are difficult to meet. On top of that, they present emotional threats such as bullying or the fear of failure. Many phobias can be easily avoided, but school is a mandatory part of a child’s life, and it is something they have to learn to cope with. Small amounts of stress can be beneficial and help with performance and focus. But when the whole school system is designed around tests, results and competition, it becomes a problem.
Making the school environment more welcoming
While schools are now taking more of a stance on mental health, it will be a while before real changes are implemented in the curriculum. Sure, alternatives exist, such as homeschooling; however, with the majority of kids spending most of their hours, days and years in school, it should be a place that they associate with fun and learning. For now, there might be things teachers can do to help. Giving students more authority over their education was a major theme in the Ministry of Education report and students did not hold back with their suggestions:
“Longer deadlines so we don’t get stressed”
“Making class topics easier to engage with, e.g.: tailor to the kids’ learning styles”
“..We can choose when we want to work”
“I would want the school to understand how we feel and care”
“Encourage our own interests no matter what it is.”
“To have nice friends that aren’t mean to you or hurt you.”
It’s pretty clear that there is a mismatch between what is being provided and what students actually need and want from school. This is a big problem as it contributes to worse student outcomes and satisfaction from school and has been linked to school-associated anxiety.
Coping mechanisms for students
Talking openly with parents and teachers is key to managing school stress. Starting assignments early and studying ahead of time can help to minimize stress and avoid anxious feelings about deadlines. Building friendships without feeling pressured to fit in can help students feel included and welcome in the school environment. Finally, finding and pursuing personal interests at school can make the experience more fulfilling and give students more motivation to attend school.
Wrapping Up
Some of the most important years of a person’s life are spent at school. While schools provide an essential foundation for life, for some, it can be their most challenging period. A combination of an ill-matched curriculum, intense test pressures which students are not taught to handle, and negative social experiences contribute to this struggle.
Some methods are very effective in helping students overcome fears associated with school. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy is one way that children and teenagers can gradually immerse themselves in an environment they perceive as a trigger until they become more confident about facing it in person.
Avoiding school can sometimes exacerbate the anxiety further. Luckily, there are also ways that parents can help support children in going to school if they are feeling anxious.
If you think you might be experiencing a form of anxiety, or a phobia associated with school, take our free online tests and see if oVRcome’s Virtual Reality therapy could help change the way you experience the school environment.
References
[1]N. R. Leonard et al., “A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools,” Front. Psychol., vol. 6, p. 1028, Jul. 2015.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4511824/
Comments