The value of Drama has been appreciated in many school teachers. I feel that many have disregarded Drama in school and deemed it unimportant. However, Academic education is different from arts education as stated by Eisner (2004), 'Ability in art is assigned to talent, ability in "intellectual" subjects like mathematics and science to intelligence.' (Pg 43). Arts education focuses on aesthetics and artistic intellligence while academics focuses on knowledge based intelligence. These are two different things that the society should not compare with, but should try to interlink with.
Through drama, students obtain many high level skills. It helps not only to develop the cognitive skills, but also our sensory awareness and feelings. Through open discussions, freedom of expression and speech are employed, and this expands intellectual knowledge. Current state affairs are being brought down to student's awareness in Drama, where it encourages them to be aware of the situations happening around their life (be it political or social). Students are always in the process of reflecting, which enables them to do critical thinking. Students are being encouraged to be engaged in active learning because unlike reading and writing, Drama allows them to express and experiment their emotions actively, instinctively, willingly and freely.
As Hadow (1931) reported, 'Even among the younger children, simple play production with criticism by the class of the interpretation given by different groups of players, will develop the beginning of critical and interpretative power, and will provide a more complete and intensive experience than reading only.' (Chapter 12)
Drama encourages community building or identity creativity. Imagination and creativity works hand in hand. As the discussion grows deep, they are able to decipher, understand and appreciate different cultures, whether popular cultures or ancient cultures. From there, they may even seek to change or improve the cultural state, hence, social development occurs. Discussion taps on their imgaginative skills where students are constantly rethinking, re-interpretating on the performing of different cultural values.
Other than that, Drama, like all other art forms can be interlinked with other subjects. For example, Drama can be linked to English, History and others. It helps us to know our subjects in the wider perspective. In general, we get to learn more, not so about the a particular subject (like drama helps me to know more about english, vice versa) but about the social and historical cultures, traditions and practices of the past and present.
Ultimately, arts education enables the appreciation of the beauty of nature and creativity and that is what drama also does! In fact, I feel that it helps us to become better and more humane people in the world. (not that I have any against academics subjects)
References
Hadow, W. et.al. (1931) The Hadow Report: THe Primary School. London: H.M.S.O. Retrieved by http://www.dg.dial.pipex.com/documents/hadow/31.shtml7June200
Eisner, Elliot W. (2004) The Arts and the Creation of Mind. New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
Which of today's activities would I consider bringing to class? Why? Any concerns?
I feel that the first activity of drawing ourselves and playing the observation game are quite useful activities to get to know our students better and students also get to know themselves and their friends better. It is also useful for warm ups because we use our listening and observation skills to focus on others, then reflecting upon ourselves. (Is that how I move?).
My concern is that students might not take this seriously. They may laugh and scoff at their friends. They may not even want to sit down and observe their friends. Students who find that these activities are not beneficial or important may not cooperate, like making the effort to draw. To address them is pretty difficult because we had a class of 40 to deal with.
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