Schools across the country are implementing special accommodations to help a growing number of students manage anxiety. These plans often allow students to skip assignments, presentations, or other activities that trigger stress. However, a growing chorus of psychologists and education experts now warns this approach, intended to help, may actually be making the problem worse in the long run.
The debate centers on a fundamental psychological principle: anxiety often strengthens through avoidance. By removing the source of a student's stress, schools may be unintentionally reinforcing the anxiety, preventing students from developing the coping skills they need for academic and adult life.
Key Takeaways
- Schools are increasingly offering avoidance-based accommodations for student anxiety, such as waiving public speaking requirements.
- Psychologists argue that this approach is counterproductive and can worsen anxiety over time by reinforcing fear.
- The clinically recommended treatment for anxiety is exposure therapy, which involves gradually facing the source of fear, not avoiding it.
- Experts suggest a shift from removing challenges to teaching students coping mechanisms and building resilience.
A Surge in School Accommodations
The rise in mental health diagnoses among young people is a well-documented trend. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that approximately 21% of children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 21 have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
In response, educational institutions have sought ways to support these students. This has led to the creation of individualized plans that can include dozens of specific accommodations. According to Ben Lovett, a professor of psychology and education, and Alex Jordan, a psychologist, some students have as many as 20 different adjustments to their school day.
These often include:
- Exemption from public speaking or class presentations.
- Extended deadlines for assignments.
- Permission to leave the classroom during stressful situations.
- Alternative assignments to replace anxiety-inducing tasks.
While these measures are designed to reduce immediate distress, some experts believe they miss the larger picture of long-term mental wellness.
The Goal of Accommodations
Educational accommodations are typically intended to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to access the curriculum. The current debate questions whether removing curriculum requirements entirely for anxiety aligns with this goal or inadvertently hinders a student's educational development.
The Psychology of Avoidance
The core of the concern lies in how the human brain processes fear and anxiety. Psychologists point out that avoidance provides temporary relief, but in doing so, it strengthens the belief that the feared situation is genuinely dangerous and unmanageable.
"As psychologists who’ve studied and treated anxiety for decades, we believe that this approach — eliminating whatever makes students nervous — is making the problem worse," Lovett and Jordan stated in a widely circulated op-ed. "Here’s why: Anxiety feeds on avoidance."
This perspective is shared by other educational leaders. Justin Baeder, an author and education consultant, explained that excusing a student from an activity like public speaking reinforces the idea that they are incapable of handling it. This creates a cycle where the anxiety grows, and the student's belief in their own ability shrinks.
"That is going to harm you as a student, and reinforce the idea that you can’t do it, that you don’t have what it takes, that the situation is just unmanageable," Baeder noted.
The Power of Exposure Therapy
The most effective and widely recognized treatment for anxiety disorders is exposure therapy. This method involves controlled, gradual exposure to the feared object or situation. According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies show that this therapy helps over 90% of people with specific phobias who complete the treatment.
Nervousness vs. Clinical Anxiety
Part of the complexity in this issue is the language used to describe emotional states. Some counselors suggest that the term "anxious" has started to replace the more common word "nervous." While related, the two are distinct.
Counselor Sheryl Ankrom, MS, LCPC, clarifies the difference. Nervousness is a natural, temporary reaction to a specific stressful event, like an upcoming exam or a presentation. It's a typical part of life and learning.
Anxiety, in a clinical sense, is a more persistent condition characterized by a constant state of dread and worry that can be difficult to control without intervention. While students with diagnosed anxiety disorders require significant support, experts worry that treating normal nervousness as a clinical condition can lead to over-accommodation and prevent students from learning to manage everyday stress.
Building Resilience, Not Walls
The emerging consensus is not to eliminate support for students but to rethink its form. Instead of removing challenging situations, the focus could shift to equipping students with the tools to navigate them.
This approach would involve:
- Teaching Coping Strategies: Schools can integrate lessons on mindfulness, breathing techniques, and cognitive reframing to help students manage stress in the moment.
- Scaffolded Exposure: Rather than excusing a student from a presentation entirely, a school could work with them to build up to it. They might start by presenting to a teacher, then to a small group, and eventually to the whole class.
- Access to Counseling: Ensuring students have access to on-site mental health professionals can provide them with evidence-based strategies to confront their fears in a supportive environment.
Ultimately, the goal of education is to prepare students for the future. Experts argue that challenging students and helping them rise to those challenges is a critical part of that preparation. By fostering resilience instead of avoidance, schools can empower students to manage not just their academic tasks, but the inevitable stresses of life beyond the classroom.