Self-help guru Tony Robbins once defined stress as what happens when we have a fight-or-flight response when we can neither fight nor fly. For adults, stress is an accepted part of life, and one that health experts recommend we take purposeful steps to counter. For children, adults too often hand-wave away their stress as "just part of growing up."
Causes of Classroom Stress
An article in the Fall 2001 issue of "Childhood Education" names grades, social pressure, excessive homework, conflicts with teachers and tests as significant stressors in the classroom. These stressors are felt by children as early as kindergarten or first grade, a situation the article says makes "the concept of a carefree childhood nearly obsolete."
Effects of Classroom Stress
Lifetime elementary teacher Katherine Brick has observed behavior problems, sliding academic performance, social issues and even hypochondria all stemming from classroom stress. A 1994 study by Ryan-Wenger and Copeland linked classroom stress to teen drug use and drop-out rates. An early association between school and stress is also counterproductive to developing a love of learning in students of any age.
The Science
When experiencing a fight-or-flight reaction, the body undergoes specific physical and chemical changes. Among these changes are the production of hormones and changes in blood supply, which combine to reduce and even stop higher-order thinking skills. Put simply, being under stress makes the brain more primitive. This can result in poor attention, reduced memory and even sensory occlusions. As self-defense instructor Phil Porter says, the body under stress is great at running and hitting, but terrible at listening and remembering.
Test Anxiety
Test anxiety is a classic example of how stress affects student performance in a learning environment. A student might be anxious about a test for any number of reasons. He may feel unprepared, or feel that the teacher doesn't want him to succeed. He could even be nervous about something unrelated to the test, such as bullying or problems at home. Taking the test in a fight-or-flight state, the student has trouble sitting still, has limited access to long-term memory and has trouble following logic chains to their conclusion. The result is a low test score that doesn't represent the student's mastery of the topic and an experience that contributes to greater stress at the next exam.
What to Do
According to a literature review at TrainingPlace.com, much of the study of child stress has focused on quantifying or proving the effects of stress on children. Attempts to treat stress in children have involved applying adult stress management techniques such as relaxation, time management skills, meditation and sports psychology practices. Education expert Dr. Alfie Kohn has started to look at the structure of classrooms, modes of instruction and even the appropriateness of homework to help alleviate child stress.
References
- "Helping Children Cope With Stress In the Classroom"; Karen Fallin, et al; Childhood Education: Fall 2001
- Training Place: The Impact of Stress on Learning
- Katherine Brick, Classroom Teacher, Hillsboro, Oregon
- "Unconditional Parenting"; Alfie Kohn; 2006
