“Best times of my high school life.”
I just received this comment on my Facebook page after posting a PSA on how theatre transforms students’ lives. This comment does not represent a desire to goof off and party, nor is it an isolated sentiment. Theatre Education programs provide a safe place for students to be themselves, explore relationships, develop compassion, and discover delayed gratification.
These are the obvious take-aways.
Here’s some less obvious ones.
Success in school
By any definition of “Youth at Risk,” the percentage of those who graduate from high school is doubled when those students are coming from an arts-rich school environment.
At-risk students in arts-rich school environments also get better grades, have better attendance, are more likely to take upper-level classes and to succeed in them… and on, and on, and on. For another take on how theatre education promotes success in school, watch this short (1.5 minute!) video PSA.
Business of theater
Learning the business side of theatre prepares students well for other careers.
Here’s a short video PSA, if you prefer video, and below is an excerpt from Backstage Magazine, an article by Harvey Young.
“Rahm Emanuel, the current mayor of Chicago and formerly Chief of Staff to President Obama as well as a Congressman, majored in the Humanities in college with a specialization in dance. “Value” studies would look at Emanuel and identify him as not being successful because he neither works as a professional dancer nor earns income in the field of dance. Instead of adopting this flawed logic, it is important for us to acknowledge that the skills gained through theater apply to other jobs and careers outside of the performing arts. Theater majors frequently become makers and producers oftheater but they also (and probably in equal or greater numbers) become lawyers, politicians, management consultants, marketing executives, and community educators to name just a few of the many career paths open to them.”
What can you do?
- Vote pro arts-in-ed.
- Find a way to support arts-in-ed programs in your community.
- Take a moment this week to see a performance that moves you to laughter or love or understanding or tears, or to watch a child become invested in the performance version of something otherwise challenging, or a community discovering and celebrating its voice. Then thank an arts educator.
Want to develop your own skills?
There are a number of organizations that hold conferences. The New York State Theatre Education Association holds an annual conference, designed for anyone who uses drama and/or theatre with students — drama teachers, teaching artists, music teachers who direct shows, after-school providers, English teachers, general classroom teachers, and others.
I close with this quotation of Henry Miller: The arts teach nothing…except the significance of life.
