By Iman Bakhit
Staff Writer
As schools narrow their focus on improving student’s performance on standardized tests, schools leave out one crucial key to student success, theater.
Theater is the profession in acting, directing, writing, or producing plays. Mira Costa’s Drama Department prepares students by teaching acting techniques for stage as well as learning how to perform various kinds of plays. The Advanced Drama class participates in major productions as well as festivals and other outside projects.
According to a study conducted in UCLA’s Graduate School of Education, consistent participation in theater greatly improves academic performance as it elevates standardized test scores in the verbal and math portions. It also enhances reading comprehension also, both verbally and nonverbally. Altogether, theater assists students in understanding material, significantly furthering their education, a school’s top priority.
Involvement in the arts also encourages consistent attendance, as well as lower dropout rates, because it forces students to engage in the activity. Students who are in theater are three times more likely to win an award for school attendance than those who do not. Theater is a great way to engage students who are quiet and timid, and to promote class contribution.
According to the ATTAE, (American Alliance For Theater & Education) studies indicate that not only does the performance of a story contribute to a student’s understanding of the work performed, but the experience also helps them develop a better understanding of other works and languages and overall expression.
Theater is also a good way to emphasize the importance of responsibility, commitment, and time management to students. It is a great way to apply their creative selves into a project.
However technology is quickly emerging, distracting society from the old, almost ancient, idea of theater. There are no special effects, or a pause button on theater. When someone is watching a TV show, they can change as many channels as they please, but if they attended a play, good or bad, they would have to wait until it concludes.
Even so, theater is a part of culture and is considered art in many countries all over the world that can impact students academically as well as raise participation and encourage attendance in class. Though theater is usually seen as just a performing art, it is capable of changing student’s behaviors and habits, which should be highly encouraged and more recognized in schools everywhere.
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