Open Forum

Hello!

I am a Middle School Drama Teacher at a private school in South Florida. 

Over the last two years, our school has developed a pretty severe and shocking bullying problem, especially in regards to students involved in the arts. (Although they are not the only kids targeted... it's rough out here.)

Students who choose to participate in the arts, and drama, are often targeted by their peers who see them as the "weird kids" at our school. I am a pretty young educator who has worked in schools in New York City, Colorado, and now Florida.. and I have never seen anything this bad before. I am constantly losing kids in the drama program because they are afraid of their reputation and do not want to be associated with drama or theatre. Kids tell me that they love doing this and have a passion for theatre.. but that their peers are bullying them so bad they do not want to continue. 

I have been trying, since I started at this school, to help shape this perception. I am a pretty young educator (27) so I do my best to try and relate to the students at the school. I've tried bringing in social media, tiktok, anything I can that reaches them. The students just tell me that this has ALWAYS been an issue, even before I began here. 

I know that theatre kids are often stereotyped as the weird kids... but why is that? Why, as a society, has this become the norm in schools? What can I do to fix this? How can I help? I hate seeing kids give up on their passions due to bullying. 

Any and all resources are appreciated. 

Have a great day!

Not a problem where I am.  Could be just a Florida issue.  I have heard a lot of stories from people who grew up in Florida.

Not a Florida problem.  I teach in Florida and have been for over 25 years. 

My program continues to grow and I always have more kids show up for auditions than those that are just in the theatre classes.  Not sure if it's an anomaly or not.  I try to be very active at the other things on campus to get to know kids outside of the program too.  Go to games, attend the Robotics events, support the magnet programs, volunteer.  Get out there and get to know the kids.  They often attack what they don't know or understand.  Our program uses outreach events that are fun for everyone to allow them to get to know our program and the kids in it.  We host game events, karaoke events, and others where they can come have fun after school and hang out.  

Sadly, the arts have an unfair stigma from a large percentage of "non arts " people. It wasn't until a tragic, arts student's suicide, I realized how serious the stigma and senseless bullying is in our schools.

If you notice any form of bullying, do something, say something. Most importantly, end bullying immediately with promise it will never happen again.

As with any subject, anti bullying can be taught and practiced by anyone, even the bully.

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Ron Matthews
director
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It is not just a Florida problem. For the last 18 years I've directed a 7-12 program in a small Title I school in Lancaster County, PA, with no curricular theatre, limited arts and music in a sports-centric community. Can't even count the number of talented students we've lost because of peer pressure - and it has been growing worse in the past 5 years or so. Just mention an in-school performance and even those dedicated enough to stick it out go ashen and threaten to quit. It breaks my heart.

First, I am sorry to hear what your kids are going through. I left Florida for greener pastures after acting, writing, teaching and directing there for 30 years at every level. I saw an increase of bullying and marginalizing of the arts over the past 5 years and the political climate has some impact. What I have mainly found in middle school aged kids is that those that bully are jealous of the courage the performing arts kids have to put themselves out there. Middle school is such a difficult time and to step out of your comfort zone on stage in front of peers is, in my opinion, heroic. I have shared this observation with my students past and present. I tell them they are my heroes and to never let anyone take their joy or stop them from doing what they love.

I am cheering for you and your kids to thrive!

Hi Karlie,  

I am sorry your students are going through this.

Where is the school administration? Are they aware this is happening?  Do they have policies about bullying?  Do they support arts programs?  It feels more systemic than just a few students. 

I wish you the best in your efforts to encourage these students. 

Linda

Karlie, middle school is hard.  Hard for teachers, hard for students.  Most are moving in lockstep with peers, constantly hoping they won't be excluded from the group. 

The school where you are teaching is K-12, which means you have a ready audience of younger students.  You might look into producing a show for the younger grades, with an evening show for parents and friends.  I loved doing children's theatre with my high school students, taking shows to our feeder elementary schools, where my actors were considered rock stars.  Your feeder is right where you are.  You can incorporate a multitude of various lessons in preparation for a show.

Heuer and Pioneer may be your best locations for plays for that purpose.   

I worked 1/3 day at a middle school, 2/3 day at my high school, for 3 semesters.  I left that experience thinking I had failed miserably.   I was shocked at how many of the surly, squirrely middle students I had interacted with registered for theatre classes when they got to the high school.  Middle school is just hard, and everyone who teaches there deserves praise.  Hang in there!

HIgh School Musical.  Put a basketball hoop in your playspace and invite the basketball team to be in the show.  

Do the kids who are bullying others ever watch movies or TV shows? If they do, they are seeing actors, many of whom are popular with kids for various reasons. What I think I'm reading above is that there's a disconnect between "high school drama" and "professional actors" in the bullies' minds.

Just like many sports stars started out in high school sports, many big-time actors started out in high school drama. I'm not a teacher, so I have no idea how to bring this up in a school, but, from my years here in the forum, I'm under the impression that part of the problem is the way high school theater is often presented and perceived as "the arts" instead of as a possible and very real career path.

#1 We all Empathize with you, in some way or another.

#2 Short term - You need to get adults involved in protecting the innocent.   Parents, Admin, community members, and Other teachers!  and teach the kids how to appropriately stand up for themselves!   You'll have to figure out what works for you, but it might be cool to get some successful people to help change perception (cops, attorneys, local celebs, biz owners, church leaders... etc)

#3 DO THEATRE!!!  Work into your theatre shows experiences that empower the artists, and messages for the gen population that encourage better behavior.   This is what we do, right?     HSM might be interesting... or find some way to connect the dots between your artistic groups and groups that tweens are more likely to be easily drawn to?   We do a Drama Camp for little kids (you could include 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders...) and when the little kids enjoy doing theatre games and being onstage - it can have the affect of helping them to see the arts more broadly (just one of the fin things they do) thus breaking down the walls that seperate the "sporty/success" type activities and the "Weirdo" ones.  And their parents will give you money to make more impressive things happen onstage!!!

I'm sure it's extra difficult in the 'trenches', but I'm sure that you can take steps towards a better situation!