Students Fear of Failure

By: Brynnley Prijatel 

Many teachers have noticed a decline in students participation in class since 2019. There are a few different reasons for the decline in student participation. Many teachers and adults jump to the conclusion that they don't pay attention, or they're not confident of what they are doing. Although this can be true, there are far more reasons hidden below the surface. 

Henry Grossen, High School English teacher at Pueblo County High School states, “Immediately after Covid there was a large decline in student participation. Apathy levels were at an all-time high, I think-- and I've always said apathy is a poison. When you start not caring about little things in your life (hygiene, diet, screen time limits, etc.) it is a slippery slope to start not caring about the bigger things in your life like your education or your relationships with friends and family. Caring about your life and your mind is very important, and when you stop participating you stop caring. There have always been students that choose not to participate, whether through ignorance or shyness; and I believe a student can still learn without always actively participating; but they're certainly not getting the best that their education has to offer without their own buy-in and effort.”

Some students face the fear of judgement by their peers, fear of getting the answer wrong, and low confidence. Covid caused everyone to shut down, staying quarantined in their homes with little to no face to face social interaction. Students had little to no interaction causing them to be more timid to speak, and socialize in person after a year in isolation. COVID disrupted normal learning habits, also making it harder for students to adjust. Many students came back from Covid with more anxiety and lower confidence. 


From the article, “Student Engagement in Learning Is Low. A Survey Offers Clues on How to Bring Them Back”, Emma Fittes explains, “Students are lacking a curiosity at school that is critical to learning, a new report finds. And it likely plays a big part in teachers’ ongoing struggle to reengage students post-pandemic. Nearly half of teachers (46 percent) say student engagement has declined compared to 2019, according to a survey-based report by The Harris Poll for Discovery Education. At the same time, the vast majority of students, 83 percent, say there are not enough opportunities at school for them to be curious. That’s a disconnect that all vendors in the K-12 space should be paying attention to, said Lisa Katz, vice president of research and analytics at Discovery Education.”


Although we are more connected now than ever via technology and social media, true connection with each other is lacking. Many young people today  have fewer opportunities for in-person, genuine connections with their peers that are not technology based, and that is leading to a sense of loneliness and disconnection. 


Amanda Lay, English teacher at PCHS states, “Anyone who has been paying attention has noticed the increase in apathy (this is everywhere, but especially noticeable in young people) since COVID shutdowns. The reasons are varied and nuanced, but I believe that the main culprits are social disconnection/loneliness and trauma. We have access to all of the information in the world, but much of it is surface level and does not lead us to long term, deep, and meaningful relationships and connections. This causes many young people to "check out" in school and in their social lives, going along with the motions but never really feeling a sense of belonging or pride in who they are. 


Overall, student participation has gone down significantly after COVID, while teachers and adults notice it, students are also starting to notice the decline. After COVID students stopped caring about their overall appearance, the effort they put into themselves, along with their education. 


Sources:
https://marketbrief.edweek.org/meeting-district-needs/student-engagement-in-learning-is-low-a-survey-offers-clues-on-how-to-bring-them-back/2024/10 

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-disengagement-gap/

https://www.nasbe.org/getting-students-engaged-in-learning/