“If you don’t do well on this test you won’t pass the class”, “Your college professors will not be as lenient as I am”, “This test is crucial, if you don’t do well, you will not pass the class”. Teachers say these each day with the intention that it will make the students work harder.

By definition a scare tactic is a strategy using fear to influence the public’s reaction. Schools use the fear of failure as well as other scare tactics to motivate students to complete their extensive school work.

The fear of failure is one of the leading problems in students today and has yet to show a valid reason for schools to continue using it. Teachers are the people who are supposed to encourage students to learn, not scare them to the point of anxiety or mental breakdowns.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) anxiety disorders affect 25.1% of children between 13 and 18 years old and with the age of high schools ranging from 14 to 18, high school students are at a risk for anxiety, most often caused by the fear of failing imposed by educators.

Rather than using scare tactics to motivate students to finish their assignments, study and pass tests. Educators should use tactics that engage and excite students to want to learn and do well in in their classes. Stopping the use of scare tactics leads to the reduction of students feeling terrified before entering the classroom.