To the Editor:

They have a pounding heart and red face; you have a red pen and paper. They want to run; you want to write a number. Well, that number doesn’t only count as a grade of how good their brain is, it counts on their guts to get up and share it. Why?

I’ve heard it, I’ve seen it, I’ve felt it. Kids all around are being forced to get out of their comfort zone. Well, of course those who haven’t experienced it in any form or way most of the time don’t understand how scared a person can be.

Most of the time they think, “Just get up and do it,” but that’s the thing. Judging, thinking, people.

At first, we’re the only ones who’ve heard it. We don’t know if it’s right or wrong. We think, “Well, what if it’s not good enough? What if I don’t have enough of something? I’d be getting right up here to make a fool of myself! What do I do?”

Judging is the last thing we need. Kids are being forced to go through this everywhere, every day!

Did you know that the fear of public speaking is one of America’s top phobias? The fear of public speaking affects approximately one in four people. Trust me, I know.

I was forced to read a paper I wrote in front of my class even though I was not comfortable with it at all. I was forced to go out of my comfort zone just because it was required and graded. Kids should be graded and rewarded on doing the work instead on testing how brave they are!

Why are schools grading kids on this when they’re not even doing much of this public speaking anyway? Only about 9 percent of a typical high school day is devoted to interactive discussion.

I’ve heard about my brother’s, and sister’s classes in the high school and even they say that they don’t do that much interactive discussion. It’s really only learn a lesson or try to. There’s not that much talking, until a project comes along.

That’s where kids are forced again, but what I always wonder is why presenting is necessary when you have your work right in front of you, and you could just as easily hand it in to the teacher to grade? Does the teacher just not want to read it?

All you’re doing in this is telling a bunch of other people what you wrote, and that’s not always what people want. This is like thoughts and parts of your brain on a paper, but let’s focus on the thoughts. Isn’t there a reason your thoughts are in your head, and not out loud?

Some teachers think that, when kids raise their hands, they’re the smarter ones in class because they’re participating, but that’s not always the case. Kids could just be scared.

Imagine you’re watching a tape your teacher put on a screen. You’re so into the tape and understanding everything it’s saying when, suddenly, you’re called on. “You! What was the last thing that happened?”

Distracting, right? Kids focus better when they’re not stopped to be forced to share. Most kids do better when they’re paying close attention and taking detailed notes instead of being called on, out of nowhere and distracted by a question.

Now, everyone reading this right now, listen up! My point is not that kids should never participate or present. I mean, all of you that are not scared to present; present if you want to. I just think that it shouldn’t always be required and graded.

However, those who are scared are going to have to get over this at some point because in college, you’re going to have to do it and it’s going to be a huge requirement, even though I think even that isn’t needed.

You are always going to have a choice. Should kids be forced to do this still when they’re really scared? Or should they just get over it and learn to do it? Take a few seconds to think — three, two, one — times up! So, what is it?

Katelyn Waltz

Farnsworth Middle School