Theatre teachers, as you start the new school year and begin implementing those lessons you spent your summer creating, it might be worth pausing and reflecting on why you do what you do: that is, working twelve to fifteen hour days and at least one weekend a month in which you make sure that your students have the best possible theatre experiences that you can give them. Yes, it’s a job and you’re under contract and you have a car payment, a mortgage, braces for your daughter and never mind the rest. But I’m also going to assume that you teach theatre because you think that it’s an important part of students’ well-rounded education and you can’t imagine not sharing with them all the amazing artistry and life preparation skills that it offers.
Students, please read and then reread the above, and do some reflecting of your own. I’ll tell you why in a moment.
Here’s where I’m going with this: The week of September 14-18 is National Arts in Education Week and the chief sponsoring organization, Americans for the Arts has created a resource bank of ways to spread the word about the value and purpose of arts education throughout the week and beyond. There are specific suggestions about how to create an event, advocate on behalf of your school or community, or participate via social media, all of which is intended to celebrate and showcase all things arts education.
We have a lot to celebrate these days in theatre education. Among other things, the Educational Theatre Association continues to grow, with more than 5,300 adults and 65,000 student members and has launched JumpStart Theatre, a new after-school pilot project designed to create theatre education programs in underserved middle schools. The field has robust new National Core Standards, and this year we got own Tony Award, with EdTA member Corey Mitchell as the first awardee. We continue to broaden our reach and influence—I recently participated in a plenary panel at the Arts Education Partnership Forum and this weekend Executive Director Julie Theobald can be heard in a radio interview talking about EdTA and the value of theatre education (Saturday, September 12, at 10 a.m. EST). You can also check out my celebration-connected AFTA blog and webinar (Thursday, September 17, at 3 EST) in which I discuss the pending reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the arts standards.
Here’s a way for you—both educators and students—to participate in National Arts Education Week: As part of the celebration, AFTA is encouraging supporters to go online to Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #TeachTheArts and tell the story about arts educators who made a difference. Who better to tell stories than theatre students and teachers?—it’s what you do every day! Teachers: did you have your own inspirational educator, someone that moved you toward your career today? Let everyone know how important this person was and remains to you today. Students: Here’s your chance to honor your theatre teacher for all he or she has done for you and your community. Whether you are a teacher or student, consider writing a short tribute, take a selfie with your student and/or teacher, or even create a short video tribute and post it on Twitter with the above hashtag (and add #theatrED) and/or on the EdTA Facebook page.
And while you're at it: take time to sign an Americans for the Arts petition in support of arts friendly provisions in the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act--keep the arts a core subject area! This simple bit of language in federal law can make a difference in your classroom.
You deserve a shout out, to one another and to all of us who have benefitted from what theatre has done for us. Come on—lights up. Tell your story.