Teens Discuss Stress, Academic Pressure, 'Race to Nowhere'

Students and one alumna from the  gathered at Amador Valley High School on Wednesday night to talk about the academic pressures they face daily.

Students say the struggle is so intense sometimes that they end up feeling frustrated, depressed and discouraged. In the audience, teachers, administrators, peers and parents listened intently. 

"I think the idea of performing and producing is really stressed," said  Molly Richardson, a senior at Foothill High School. "So much of our education now (is about) learning for a test, taking a test."

The conversations come as the district embarks on an effort to discuss and possibly change its homework policy to allow students more time for other activities. 

Recently, the district , a documentary about how the emphasis on standardized testing produces disengaged, depressed and burned-out kids. 

Andres Oswill, a Foothill senior, said many of his peers are trying "to just get to the next level." One statistic from the film that shocked him was that about 50 percent of University of California and California State University freshmen have to retake basic math and English courses when they get to college.

"What it comes down to is for us, it's more important to get that grade, pass that test to get to the next level, eventually go to college," Andres said. "We're giving up the idea of learning for the sake of learning."

Wednesday night's discussion was candid; panelists said the pressure comes not only from parents, but also teachers, friends and themselves.

It's the norm in Pleasanton, the students said, to compare kids using grades and which prestigious college they attend.

The young speakers joked at times about the pressure. One teen told parents not to worry about their child getting C's in class because it stands for "Chill." 

The discussion took a serious turn when the teens talked about feelings of  depression and for one, thoughts of suicide. Another spoke about how the stress resulted in skipping school and drug use. In fact, many on the panel said it was common to see classmates turning to substances as a way to escape.

Parents asked what solutions could come from them or the schools. 

Jane Golden, the district's director of curriculum and special projects, said the district is visiting schools and talking with teachers to see whether they understand the homework policy and to get ideas for possible changes.

Golden said the district also is reaching out to coaches, music teachers and outside school activity leaders to talk about balance. An idea that has come from these discussion, Golden said, was the fact that students need more hours of sleep.

An audience member reminded parents to ask students whether the large amount of time they say is devoted to school work  (some for four hours or more) is "solid homework time," or whether much of it is spent on the Internet and social-media sites.

Parents said the forum was a reminder that learning should be about the individual child, not about fitting a mold. 

"I think the main thing that I try to do with my own kids, and was reinforced here, was to see each child as an individual and to work towards finding what their passion is," said Mary Lain, mother of three. 

Another parent said the panel highlighted the fact that students at different academic levels are feeling the pressure. 

"I think it goes to show that the 4.0 kid is feeling stress, that the 3.0 kid is also feeling stress, whether it is parent-driven, teacher-driven, community-driven, it's there," said Carol Richardson, mother of two.

The forum also highlighted which classes the students enjoyed—from a literature and social issues program that incorporates the Socratic seminar to a higher-level physics class that treats students as if they're in in college.

 Forum schedule: 

• Jan. 27 - Homework forum for elementary school, Hearst Elementary multipurpose room, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
• Feb. 2 - Homework forum for middle school, Pleasanton Middle School multipurpose room, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
• Feb. 9 - Homework forum for high school, Amador Valley High School multipurpose room, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
• March 31 - "Resiliency in Action"— Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, pediatrician, Amador Valley High School library, 7 - 8:30 p.m.