Discovering the Meaning Behind Fear in Schools

Fear is an important topic in schools. We are all familiar with fear, and we can almost sense it in the hallways and classrooms.

In German, there's a phrase, "Ich kann die Schule nicht mehr riechen", which literally translates to "I can't stand the smell of school anymore." This means, "I am utterly fed up with school!" This isn't just a metaphor. When children say this, they mean it—they don't want to experience fear any longer.  Fear is closely tied to learning. As children learn new things every day, they naturally feel fearful. Children may feel that they are losing knowledge and ability. Their fears include whether they have correctly understood the teacher’s lessons and remembered all the material. They fear teachers who seem to know everything and worry about failing exams. Sometimes, this fear can manifest as aggression towards teachers, the school, parents, or society, and it's hard to pinpoint where it begins. Teachers also suffer from fear. They worry about whether they have the resilience to handle the ever-changing school environment, fear they might not be able to manage students' aggression, or are concerned about not being accepted by their colleagues. They fear sudden visits from school authorities, and worry that their own aggression might potentially harm students. Parents share these fears as well. They worry that their children may fall behind in school, lack respect from peers, lack confidence, or become too competitive. They fear their children might be provoked, among other concerns. Teachers often notice when students carry their parents' fears with them into school. When students' fears collide with teachers' fears, communication between them often suffers significantly. At times, schools can seem like environments where fear accumulates among students, teachers, and parents. When this fear becomes overwhelming, it can escalate into aggression.

Extracted from “When We Are Together” by Marianne Franke-Gricksch