WHY TEACHING DRAMA IS IMPORTANT IN SCHOOLS

Why is Teaching Drama important in our schools today?

Teaching Drama class is one of the few effective ways the school system has for producing creative thinkers, confident students and resourceful future leaders. The Drama program in schools offer skills that not only develop the individuals within the practice of Drama, but also creates an opportunity for the students to gain knowledge, experience and ability across many different disciplines of study. The students are more likely to become better on the spot problem solvers through improvisation, and will partake more actively when asked to take initiative because of their increase in self-confidence. Public speaking becomes something these students are proud of rather than dread or fear. As regular members of society, the students are capable of picking up social cues and can respond to body language and changes in tone, thus becoming better communicators. Students learn how to play and connect with each other in person which has been one of the more interesting changes in this day in age with the amount of screen time used per day. Most importantly, students have fun in Drama class. Fun is usually very correlated with the fact that the students are being successful.

Improvisation is one of the first things students get to learn when studying Drama. It is the ability to think on the spot and create something positive out of essentially nothing or perhaps even something negative. For example, working around a mistake should it happen in a play or interview. There are exercises that practice improvisation in a teamwork setting that requires students to work together and solve certain problems as a team. An example of this would be forgetting one’s lines, or a sudden change in the props and/or setting. This ability to creatively think also activates the imagination which in turn can also assist in the student’s creative writing abilities.

Students building self-confidence is another large factor in the importance of teaching Drama. The feeling of self-confidence boosts the performance of a student in any discipline. One way that Drama instructors assist in building self confidence is using performances, and providing good feedback on those performances. The ability to public speak greatly increases and so does one’s confidence.

This leads into the importance of good communication through body language and tone of voice. Drama has a lot of focus on the performance arts but prior to teaching students how to perform they must learn the basics of good communication. In the real world and across many different disciplines, communication is a standard skill that must be taught. This is not a skill that is taught in math, sciences, and even social studies classes.

Today, how many children are seen on their screens instead of communicating and playing outside on the play ground? It is almost unheard of in today’s age to see children initiating, or even playing unstructured games anymore. Many need direct guidance which should not be the case. Drama engages the imagination and can actually be a long term health benefit for today’s youth. Drama classes teach students how to make real life connections and take initiative when sharing ideas and imagining games.

Playing games and having fun is an essential part of growing up. If you ask a student if they are having fun, it is usually correlated with when students are having success in something. Drama has many guidelines but also many areas in which a student can find success with. If a student is very musically gifted or just like to sing, they can partake in musicals. If they are a writer and want to explore writing, the class covers plays and other dramatic pieces. If they are an athlete or dancer, there are stage combat options and dance options. If the students enjoy being crafty they can help with the set, props and costumes. There is success in diversity.

Teaching Drama class is the best way the school system has for producing creative thinkers, confident students and resourceful future leaders because of its diverse nature and numerous skill sets. These skill sets include: problem solving, public speaking, good communication, making real life connections, the ability to boost their own self-confidence, and the ability to have fun. Drama is the only discipline to cover such a broad spectrum and should not be overlooked.