According to retired teacher Mary Conrad, of Fort Dodge, there’s even a word for it.

“Glossophobia,” she said. “It’s a very common fear. It’s one of the top 10.”

Conrad and fellow retired teacher Mary Rosburg, along with several other retired instructors, are helping the fifth-grade students at St. Edmond Catholic School practice their public speaking skills through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Speak Up program.

RSVP Coordinator Terri Laufersweiler said the program has been offered, and has been very successful, in other Iowa communities.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen RSVP volunteers and retired teachers Mary Rosberg, at left, along with Mary Conrad, both of Fort Dodge, help Drew Anderson prepare to be the day's master of ceremonies Friday during a Speak Up class at St. Edmond Catholic School.

It’s new to this area.

“It’s the first time it’s ever been done in Fort Dodge,” she said.

Rosburg spent 39 years in the Fort Dodge Community School District before retiring in 2010 as a language arts instructor at the Middle School. She, too, had to work on her public speaking skills.

“It’s something I had to work on,” she said. “I tend to be a quiet person. I remember my first day of teaching. You look out and see all these kids — just waiting for you to say something.”

She said that a fear of public speaking can even limit people’s experiences later in life, keeping them from such activities as volunteering to serve on boards.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Neveah Dencklau, a fifth-grader at St. Edmond Catholic School, keeps her eye on the running clock after giving one of her classmates the one minute warning as they gave their speeches Friday morning. Riley Rossow, at right, was in charge of timing. Dencklau kept track of the number of sighs, umms and ohs.

“It’s one of the reasons I hear most often from adults,” she said. “I don’t like to talk in front of people. Kids are like that till they get a little exposure. They won’t die of embarrassment from it.”

As Rosburg and Conrad have worked with the fifth-grade students, their use of technology during their presentations and in preparation for them impresses them greatly.

“Their use of technology has amazed both of us,” Conrad said. “They grew up with it. We’re learning it on the fly.”

Conrad’s teaching career was spent at Iowa Central Community College and Buena Vista University. She taught business technology along with business communication and business English. She retired in 2001.

She, like Rosburg, hopes the students’ public speaking skills will go with them as they progress through their educational levels.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Michaela Leiting, a fifth-grader at St. Edmond Catholic School, combines holding up the "Speak Up," sign and giving applause at the end of one of her classmate's speech Friday afternoon during an RSVP Speak Up public speaking class.

“It was designed for their level,” Conrad said. “I have had students at the college level that have never given a speech.”

The students who spoke to their classmates on Friday picked a variety of topics. One spoke about American Sign Language, several shared why their favorite athletes were their heroes, and Emma Barwin did a bit of lobbying.

“My speech is called why students should get paid for good behavior and grades,” she said.

Once everyone had their turn, master of ceremonies Drew Anderson opened the floor to questions.

One of the first was from a hopeful soon-to-be-paid earner of good grades.

“How much money would you get paid?” they asked.

Barwin was prepared for that.

“I actually made a chart about that,” she said. “It’s at my house, though.”

From memory, she gave the highlights,

“When you get an F you get zero,” she said.

An A would net $20. Each letter grade below that, $5 less.

Conrad liked her speech.

“You get high marks for creativity,” Conrad said. “That was a subject nobody else thought of. You presented some parts that you had thought long and hard about. Do I think it’s going to happen? Probably not.”

While Barwin may not get the big bucks now, she does get something quite valuable for her good grades.

“I get hugs,” she said. “I don’t get any money at all.”

Barwin was quite at ease during her time at the podium.

“I’ve always been kind of a social person,” she said.

Some of the other students who spoke Friday were visibly nervous, but each one finished their speech. As they get more and more practice, and gain confidence, the experience will go with them.

Maybe one day to a bigger podium with cameras running.

They will, after all, be eligible to run for president in the late 2030s.