Public Speaking-related Class Projects should not be mandatory — Do you think I can make a difference?
I’m 16 years old and I was going through a very hard time in my life last year while I had to read a very personal poem I wrote out loud to the class. Normally a popular kid, I was extremely embarrassed of the poem but read it out loud anyway. Long story short, I pretty much choked and have had major problems reading out loud ever since.
I was wondering if writing a well-written letter to the principal, vice principal, dean of students, etc. in my high school requesting an alternative to all public-speaking projects, speeches, etc. could make a difference and have that new kind of rule enacted? I mean, I used to take for granted my ability to speak to large groups without nervousness, but now I can’t. In my case, it’s just my own nervousness that almost drags me into a depression weeks before the presentation/speech is even due — But I hang in there. Other kids may — and I’m sure have in the past — turn to drugs, commit suicide, drop out of high school, etc. all because of the anxiety speaking in front of large groups causes them. Don’t underestimate anxiety, especially considering the fact that public speaking is the #1 fear in America, exceeding even death.
So what do you think? Can a well-written letter defend the kids that nervously write a pass to the nurse’s office every time the teacher goes around the class calling on kids to read paragraphs out loud? Can it allow kids to make a video at home or a poster rather than a full-blown powerpoint presentation? Can it allow kids to simply hand in their written work, as opposed to reading it in front of the whole class?
Honestly, can I make a difference? Before I write a huge essay trying to convince my school officials to chance the rules…
Tagged with: Class • difference • mandatory • Projects • public • should • Speakingrelated • think
Filed under: Anxiety Public Speaking
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Frankly, I think your own statement should tell you something – people are scared of public speaking, so we should stop asking them to do it? Most jobs require some kind of public speaking at some point. Answering phones, presenting business models, arguing a point, presenting research at a conference – all those people had to get over their fear of speaking in public. I ended up in the ER the night before I had to teach my first class with what turned out to be a massive panic attack over speaking in public – hard to beat that. But I got over it by forcing myself to speak at every opportunity, and now I’m told I’m an excellent speaker. My point is, you can’t go through life avoiding everything you’re not good at – try a less personal poem next time and practice in front of friends before having to go up in front of the class. So no, I don’t think you’ll listen to you, because they’ve all been there and got over it, and you and everyone else needs to as well.
No, i don’t think you will make a difference to be honest, but go ahead and try. My advice for you is if you do not want to present something in class because it is too personal for you, tell the teacher. The worse they can do if give you a bad mark. Most likely, they will resolve it otherwise.
Public speaking is necessary to learn in school. You need to be able to communicate verbally under pressure. It helps in everyday life. High school is meant to educate you and teach you life skills along the way.