RE: The Arts

The Arts are a necessary part of the human experience, and we can observe that dance, music and oration are practiced in every culture in forms unique to that culture.  It is tragic that these very innate forms of communication and expression are now sacrificed in the name of education.  I actually live in a county where a kindergarten teacher was chastized for teaching a song to her students during "learning time".

I teach drama at a Title 1 school. I use my own vacation time from my regular position to accomplish this.  The first year we performed a 75 minute musical version of The Wizard of Oz (45 children auditioned).  The second year we performed a 75 minute musical version of Cinderella (75 children auditioned).  This year we are doing a 75 minute musical version of Peter Pan (138 children auditioned, we squeezed 57 into the play).  The children are not graded for their efforts.  They must make up the work missed in class (we rehearse 1:00 - 3:30, school's out at 2:20).  The teachers (5) helping me are not being compensated for their hours.  I am being paid $350.00 for three weeks on site work, which includes driving 125 miles each day, 5 days per week to direct this show. I put one month of preproduction prep into the project, including adapting the script.  The rush is the joy of the children as their efforts make a little magic for their school.They are having to effectively communicate their understanding and memorization of core literature to a large audience. It is so beautiful to be in the presence of that much spirit.

The principal of this school was my 7th Grade English Teacher, the second most important influential adult in my life after my parents.  I KNOW teachers matter in the lives of children.

What a shame our educational system won't value The Arts.  Maybe it will be valued when they can create a scantron to formally assess it.