Lanie Roberts, SHS student journalist
Reports used by the University of Florida suggest that 75% of people have a fear of public speaking. In order to lessen that fear for Salem High School students, a public speaking class is offered through Indiana University. This class is only offered to seniors and is taught by Matthew Adkins. As part of preparing for their speeches students have been giving the announcements in the mornings.
Adkins has been teaching the class for five years. He said that speech class is the art and the theory behind public speaking. Adkins began having speech students do announcements the year before COVID-19 hit and is just now able to start it back up again. He believes students benefit from reading the announcements and that it gives them a chance to practice speaking.
“This class gives students a voice, and it allows them to see how important it actually is through building community in the classroom and by building credibility in their own beliefs,” Adkins said.
Since it is so early in the school year, only a few students have been able to give announcements. Brooklyn Davisson enjoyed it so much, she has done it multiple times already. Although she was nervous before she gave them, once she got going she was less nervous.
Davisson showed up to the office 15 minutes early to review what she was going to say. She feels that after addressing the whole school she will deliver speeches easily.
“It definitely wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and I ended up thinking that it was pretty fun to do,” Davisson said.
Jacob Miller took the class because he wanted the freedom to write and speak about what he wanted. He said that speaking to the school was not as bad as he thought it would be. Miller plans to do it again. He was able to prepare a couple of minutes before by reading through what he is going to say.
“I feel more confident about giving a speech in class after doing announcements,” Miller said.
Ellie Spaulding was scheduled to go in December, but switched her time with a friend who needed a later date. Spaulding was nervous since everyone in the school would hear her, but she was happy to get it over with. She does not know if it will help her speeches but said doing the announcements did take away some nerves about talking in front of a group. Spaulding said she took speech class so she won’t have to take it in college.
Adkins said that he sees a little improvement in confidence after students give announcements. He has them do it not only to improve their confidence but also to force them outside of their comfort zones. Adkins plans on continuing to do this in the future.
“[Saying morning news] doesn't end the anxiety, but it allows students to step into a realm that's unusual which makes them progress just that much more,” Adkins said.