High Schools Should Fund Visual and Theatre Art Programs

Interlochen Arts Academy High School

Some people tend to see theatre and visual art as a waste of time and not essential. Others will tell you that theatre is a magical experience, with many lessons you can learn. Art is a great way to express yourself. Many high schools believe it is more beneficial to fund and promote other things, like sports, instead of the arts. But theatre and visual arts have just as many benefits to a student as everything else. The high school I am currently attending has visual art classes and an art club, but it lacks in performing arts. In this blog post, you will read about why it is important to include and fund theatre and visual art programs in every school.

Creative Expression

Theatre and art can benefit a student in many ways. For instance, it can improve your creative thinking and imagination (“Benefits of Theatre Education.”). Drama classes allow a student to dig deep in a role and get caught up in the emotions their character is feeling, allowing creative expression. Visual art classes allow students, who are not as out-going as students who like to perform on stage, to express themselves on paper.

Viewing Things From a New Perspective

 Being a part of an on-stage production can improve a person's empathy towards other people (“Benefits of Theatre Education.”). Being able to play the role of a character that is different from you can increase your empathy towards others. It will allow you to see things from their perspective.

Confidence Booster

NFHS

Many students may be shy. You don't have to perform to be a part of theatre. True, performing on stage allows you to come out of your shell and boosts your confidence and self-esteem (Putnam), but in some cases, a student may be too shy to perform. This is understandable, and I can relate to this. For some people, it may just take reassurance from fellow students, a few months of rehearsals, and acting exercises to boost their confidence. Others may decide to work more behind the scenes. They may even decide to take up visual arts or playing in the band. According to Roxanne, teens who play instruments tend to do better in school.

Academic Improvement

Arts help with memory, reading comprehension, and problem-solving skills (“Benefits of Theatre Education.”). Reading lines over and over again helps you comprehend what you're reading and helps with memorizing things. Being placed in different scenarios in acting exercises will allow the student to develop more efficient problem-solving skills, thus, improving one's academic skills (“Learnings and Importance of Theatre.”).

Finding Your "Voice"

Students struggle with finding themselves and things they're interested in doing. Performing arts and visual arts can help them discover a passion they didn't know they had. This helps you to find your "voice" in the world (Shelley). Whether you like to draw, act, or work backstage on a play.

These are just some of the reasons that high schools should fund art programs. I think it's really important that we include visual and theatre art programs in our high schools. These programs provide many benefits and opportunities for students who are interested in them. 

San Juan Hills High School Theatre Arts 

Sources:

“Benefits of Theatre Education.” Act Too Players School of Music and Theatre, https://www.acttooplayers.com/benefits-of-theatre-education.

“Learnings and Importance of Theatre.” One Year Executive MBA in India, https://www.soilindia.net/soil-blog/learnings-and-importance-of-theatre.

Putnam, Katie. “Benefits of Theatre Ed.” Benefits of Theatre Ed, https://www.aate.com/benefits-of-theatre-ed.

Roxanne, Olivia. “Students Who Play Instruments Perform Better in School .” TeenInk, 9 Dec. 2011, http://www.teenink.com/hot_topics/what_matters/article/402976/Students-Who-Play-Instruments-perform-Better-in-School/. 

Shelley. “The Importance of Drama and Performing Arts in Education: Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Fletcher.” Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Http://Www.btac.nsw.edu.auBishop Tyrrell Anglican College, 1 Nov. 2016, http://www.btac.nsw.edu.au/2016/10/importance-drama-performing-arts-education/.