– Some may be afraid to raise their hand, or say what they mean out loud, or present in front of the class. Mathias Skarpeid and Kevine Umutoniwase Habimana are both students in the 10th grade at Tinntjønn School. They understand that many students find it scary to stand up in the classroom. But they have good advice. – You can practice in front of someone you are confident with first, and then you can do it in front of everyone eventually, is the advice from Kevine. – You just have to bite it. All you have to do is raise your hand, no one is going to decapitate you because you raise your hand, says Mathias. Kevine Umutoniwase Habimana suggests that you practice things you think are scary in front of someone you know well, first. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Facilitating too much But according to recent research, there is an increasing gap between each student biting the fear in primary school. – Pupils largely avoid doing things they are afraid of, such as raising their hand or going to the gym. They can sit alone to eat, and if they feel anxious, they can avoid going out at recess. That’s according to professor at UiA, Åshild Tellefsen Håland, who is also a psychologist specialist at Sørlandet Hospital. She is behind a larger survey that was carried out among primary school teachers in Kristiansand. 244 primary school teachers have responded. Many believe that excessive facilitation is a real challenge in schools. When students do not have to do things that they are afraid to do to a large extent, they do not master their anxiety, says researcher and psychology specialist Åshild Tellefsen Håland. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Anxiety increases The conclusion is that the more things students avoid, the more anxiety and worry they experience. – It quickly has major consequences, such as increased school absences, says Åshild Tellefsen Håland. At the same time, she is clear that this is done in the best sense, and that the individual teacher is not to blame for excessive facilitation. Moreover, it is not the arrangement itself that is the big culprit, but doing it without a purpose for students who do not have any pronounced mental illness. – Facilitating without having a plan for them to master what they don’t dare is what is the problem, says Tellefsen Håland. Many students are reluctant to go out during recess. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news A disservice Principal Hilde Grimm at Havlimyra school in Kristiansand recognizes herself. She believes that the school does the students a disservice. – They don’t get any safer from sitting in a room by themselves for weeks, and the road back to the classroom is often very long, she says. Why does it happen often anyway? – There may be parents who think it is a good measure, or it may be that students are absent from school if there is too much pressure. And then we think it is better for them to come to school than for them to be at home, says the headmaster. – The more they avoid, the more anxiety and worry increases, says Håland. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news At Tinntjønn school in Søgne in Kristiansand, principal Jarle Langeland says that it is important to take into account the fact that the school has changed a lot in recent years. – There are completely different requirements for participation in school now than before, both to stand in front of the class, speak up, be social and visible. This is not suitable for all students. It is then important that these students get the opportunity to practice in a safe environment, but always with a plan for returning to the classroom, he believes. Jarle Langeland is headmaster at Tinntjønn school in Søgne in Kristiansand. There they are happy to arrange to give the students the best possible school day, but always with a plan that the student will master what they are afraid of. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Doing things you’re afraid of 10th graders Kevine and Mathias both agree that the solution is both teachers who pay attention, but that you also have to be forced to do things that you might be a little afraid of. – It’s not like that in working life, I imagine, that you can sit in a group room if you’re scared, says Mathias. Mathias Skarpeid thinks it is wise that those who find it uncomfortable to sit in the classroom with others can first be allowed to sit alone in a room to calm down, before they move back into the classroom. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Competence and anxiety management Professor and psychologist Åshild Tellefesen Haaland believes that much can be improved with more competence, both on the part of teachers and parents. She herself has helped develop self-help courses for children and young people, which have had good results. Now all primary schools in Kristiansand can also offer pupils help through the mastery course E-risk. – It is incredibly important that this is tackled early, so that the problems do not just grow bigger and end up with school refusal. Competence, resources and good cooperation between pupils, parents and the school are required. At Tinntjønn school in Søgne in Kristiansand, principal Jarle Langeland says that it is important to factor in the calculation that the school has changed a lot in recent years. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news
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Too much preparation makes students more anxious – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
