|
The use of drama in
education is an important means of stimulating creativity in
problem solving. It can challenge students’ perceptions
about their world and about themselves. Dramatic exploration can
provide students with an outlet for emotions, thoughts, and
dreams that they might not otherwise have means to express. A
student can, if only for a few moments, become another, explore
a new role, try out and experiment with various personal choices
and solutions to real problems-problems from their own life, or
problems faced by characters in literature or historical
figures. This can happen in a safe atmosphere, where actions and
consequences can be examined, discussed, and in a very real
sense experienced without the dangers and pitfalls that such
experimentation would obviously lead to in the "real" world.
This is perhaps the most important reason for integrating drama
into a school program.
There is far more that drama
can do. At the center of all drama is communication. Like all
the arts, drama allows students to communicate with and
understand others in new ways. Perhaps more than any other art
form, drama also provides training in the very practical aspects
of communication so necessary in today's increasingly
information-centered world. Students who have participated in
dramatic activities are less likely to have difficulty speaking
in public, will be more persuasive in their communications, both
written and oral, will be better able to put themselves into
others' shoes and relate to them, and will have a more positive,
self image. Participation in dramatic activity requires self
control and discipline that will serve the student well in all
aspects of life. Students in drama learn to work together, to
cooperate, to find the best way for each member of a group to
contribute, and to listen to and accept the viewpoints and
contributions of others. No art form is more truly
collaborative. Drama is an important tool for preparing students
to live and work in a world that is increasingly team-oriented
rather than hierarchical.
Drama also helps students
develop tolerance and empathy. In order to play a role, a
student must be able to fully understand the person they are
representing. Students must be able to really understand how the
world looks through another person's eyes. This does not mean he
must agree with every character. In today's
increasingly polarized and intolerant culture, the ability to
understand others' motives and choices is critical. Drama can
help build responsible global citizens.
In addition to its intrinsic
educational value, drama can reinforce the rest of the school
curriculum. Since communication and empathy are central to
drama, a student who has explored roles in a classroom drama
will be better able to understand ideas in history and current
events. A student will be able to put himself into the shoes of
figures in history and literature, to understand the way human
beings interact. The link between drama and subjects such as
English, history, social studies, and related areas is obvious.
The study of literature would be impossible without some
opportunity for drama. There are important periods of our
collective literary history in which virtually all of the
surviving literature is dramatic. More importantly, drama can be
used to promote active learning in any subject-to give students
a kinesthetic and empathetic understanding as well as an
intellectual understanding of a topic. Studies have shown again
and again that this approach yields greater depth of
understanding and a marked improvement in retention. Vineland
Public Charter School will always strive to link drama lessons
to topics and themes students are studying in other subjects, or
to important social questions. In this way drama accomplishes
several goals at once-enriching students' school experience as
well as reinforcing traditional academics.
|
School Day Schedule:
7:40 - 8:00am Breakfast,
reading circles, tutorials
7:40
School Open for All Students
8:00
School Day Begins
8:00-11:30
Literacy/Performance Block (reading comprehension, phonics,
spelling, vocabulary, Monitored Independent Reading Practice,
etc.) or Core Curriculum (Music, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Technology). Drama will be integrated throughout this
block of time.
11:30-12:30
Lunch
12:30-4:00
Core Curriculum (Music, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies,
Technology) or Literacy/Performance Block (reading
comprehension, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, Monitored
Independent Reading Practice) Drama will be integrated
throughout this block of time.
The school’s educational program will promote
the elimination of discrimination:
Because Vineland Public Charter School
stakeholders believe that intolerance and indifference are the
fundamental reasons for biased behavior and prejudice is learned
at a young age our primary focus is on the best channel to
combat prejudice and protect young people from becoming victims
and perpetrators of discrimination.
It is essential to challenge preconceived ideas about
prejudice and stereotypes through critical thinking, analysis,
exercises, and action. |
