TIOSM: Advocating for Theatre Education
TIOSM: Advocating for Theatre Education
Advocating for Theatre Education
March is Theatre in Our Schools Month. Theatre education plays a fundamental role in
building well-rounded students. If you have been following this blog, it is likely that theatre holds a special place in your heart, and you understand the joy it can bring. Beyond enjoyment, there are thousands of studies that demonstrate how theatre education improves academic performance, develops identity, increases civic engagement, and is promoted by public opinion.
Despite theatre education’s importance, art programs in schools are largely dependent on district funding and are frequent subjects to budget cuts. Foundations like the Arthur Miller Foundation (article here) and many others advocate to ensure student access to theatre education. They bring up how students show improved self-awareness, interpersonal skills, empathy, and positive communication when involved in the arts.
Theater Impacts General Academic Performance
Countless studies have linked the effects of theater education and improved academic performance. Students who are involved in theatre arts are less likely to drop out and tend to score higher on standardized tests. It has also been shown that theatre education increases reading comprehension and discussion skills. The American Alliance for Theatre Education (article here) also discusses how theatre education builds self-esteem and bridges the achievement gap. Theater/arts education is positively linked to general academic performance and ought to be considered a critical part of education
Development of Identity and Self Concept
Creating a positive self-image and concept of identity is an important part of development. It has been shown that theater education offers many tools to allow students to build this concept of self. The Arts Education Partnership on Theatre Counts (article here) also discusses how theatre education increases empathy and positive peer relationships by building prosocial behavior and encouraging critical thinking. These skills learned from theatre education are translatable to any field and critical for student development.
Civic Engagement After Education
The National Endowment for the Arts compiled the findings from four longitudinal studies on arts and achievement in at-risk youth (article here). It was discovered that students who had intensive arts education are more likely to be involved in civic activities such as voting, volunteering, and general engagement with politics. This demonstrates the importance of arts education for creating active and informed adults in our community.
Public Opinion of Theatre Education
Theatre education is seen as a good thing within American communities. National surveys support the idea that we show an overwhelming love and support for the arts. American Speak Out About the Art’s (article here) key findings show that Americans believe arts give communities identity and improve personal well-being. 91% of surveyed adults believe that the arts are critical for a well-rounded K-12 education. Beyond education, most adults support the arts in some way, or another be it museums, theaters, or musical performances. This means that artistic and theater education are critical to our society and should be included in education.
Additional Resources
Theatre education facts from the Educational Theatre Association:
https://schooltheatre.org/quick-facts-and-figures-on-theatre-education/
Arts education statistics from Americans for the Arts with linked additional studies and resources: https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/arts-education/10-arts-education-fast-facts
Theatre and Life Skills article and linked studies from the Educational Theatre Association:
https://schooltheatre.org/advocacy/research-resources/
JumpStart Theatre Research Summary 2018:
https://schooltheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/JumpStart_Theatre_2015-18_Research_Reports.pdf
Educational Theatre Association on The Impact of Theatre on Student Success:
https://schooltheatre.org/drama-in-education-the-impact-of-theatre-on-student-success/
FREE DOWNLOAD: ADVOCACY POSTERS
We have put together a download of four posters to help you advocate for theatre education. Use them in your classroom, email them, post them on social media – they’re great for a variety of uses.
Once you submit the form below, the download will begin automatically.
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