Challenging Assumptions

Last week I taught at a middle school summer program. At the end of one of the classes, I asked my students what they thought about me when they walked into class.

White. Rich. Mean. Racist.

How long did it take to change their perspective? Less than an hour. For some, less than five minutes.

One of the most important aspects of being a theatre educator is the opportunity to take a drama based approach. In drama, it's not about the final performance for the audience, it's about those involved in creating the art. It's about giving them space to share their voices and their stories.

As the students came into class, they got on the subject of some type of dancing I had never heard of before.

"Show me. Can you teach me?"

And at that point the change began. After that, we could do some ensemble building activities and then went on after that to talk about some of their experiences. They are amazing kids. They have so much to say and so much to share. They were so afraid I would be just like "everyone else" that they did the same thing to me that they don't want others to do to them.

Give them five minutes. See who they really are.