Published: October 22, 2009 10:39 pm      

Speaking for the future

FKE annual speech contest works to teach life skills

Austyn Clark stood in front of his fifth-grade class at Floyds Knobs Elementary Thursday and performed a demonstration of his family secret to making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without tearing the bread.

“When the bread tears, it all oozes out,” 11-year-old Clark explained after his speech.

During it, he showed how to take two heaping tablespoons of peanut butter and put that in a container and mix in squeezable jelly, squeezing it until he counts to five. He mixed it and put it on the bread.

“Now, you’ve got an untorn peanut butter and jelly sandwich!” he said excitedly, taking a victory bite.

Clark was one of dozens of students presenting a speech whether doing a demonstration, a pretend TV broadcast or reading a story as part of the school’s annual speech contest, which has been around before the two local schools in the area combined to create FKE, according to Principal Elaine Murphy.

“The purpose is to give exposure to kids at a young age to public speaking,” said Megan Willman, PTO president who organized this year’s contest. “We just honestly think it’s just such a good idea for their future. It builds their public speaking skills and confidence.”

This year, third through fifth grade is participating. Winners in each speech category from each classroom will go on to the finals on Nov. 5. Judges were all community volunteers, including police officers, firefighters and college students.

Clark admitted he was nervous when he started his speech.

“When I heard the first laugh, I knew and I laid back and was just myself,” he said as he ate his presentation. “I think it’s pretty fun, because all your friends are looking at you and you know you have to get over your stage fright and now’s the time to do it.”

“I had stage fright, but once I started, I felt a little better,” said 10-year-old Skylar Belden, who demonstrated how to create a gift box.

“It was the first time I’ve done anything like this,” said Peyton Rodgers, 8, who did a TV broadcast. “It was good, but I was nervous.”

Teachers said the speeches give students lessons that will travel beyond the classroom.

“I think it gives them good experience in public speaking and how to stand up in front of a crowd,” said Tiffany Thompson, who teaches third grade. “They need it in life, because in every profession they’ll need to speak to people and interact with people and if they start young, it gives them more practice and experience.”

Robin Zipper, fifth-grade teacher, agreed.

“Some of them are future politicians. The little peanut butter and jelly sandwich guy is definitely going to run for something,” Zipper said.

Zipper said this exercise builds a new level of confidence for the children.

“If they can do this, they can do anything is what they’re thinking,” she said.