New Student, New Year
Erica Hill
I never thought that I would go back to
school after undergrad. In fact, I vowed that I would never go to school
again. After a couple years of not
practicing my artistry as the triple threat I once boasted to be, I took a
position as an administrator at the Gold Coast Arts Center. My focus was the
school for visual and performing arts. I answered phones, and discussed class
options with parents, sometimes for hours. I was invested in the program and
forged relationships with students and their families. There was a moment when
I became overwhelmed with the feeling that I needed to do more. To be in a
position that made more of an impact in the lives of others. I watched a drama teacher drive students away
from theatre, with his techniques of teaching. I answered complaints, and on
several occasions heard a phrase that broke my heart, “MY CHILD NEVER WANTS TO
DO THEATRE AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM”. I reassured parents that not all
drama teachers conducted themselves in the same way that our current teacher
did. I knew I had to make a change to our program. So I began teaching an Intro
to Theatre class for younger students between the ages of five and seven, and
made sure this teacher was evaluated and alerted of what he was doing to his
students. I could not let the children of my community be put off from theatre
because of one bad experience with a teacher. Working so closely with arts
teachers and their students, made me realize that I could no longer sit behind
a desk, I wanted to be in the classroom as a drama teacher. But first, I needed
to equip myself with the education and skill set of a true theatre educator,
so, here i am.
The
Educational Theatre program at The City College of New York is exactly what I
needed to further myself and my career. I know this is where I’m supposed to be
and I am so grateful to be part of such a innovative, ever changing field, with
a mission that goes further than merely theatre history or putting on plays. It
seems that the leaders in the educational field have a greater concern for the
whole child; in developing creative and empathetic citizens of the world.
During my first week I looked around my Drama in Education classroom, at my
peers, from all walks of life and who are all in different stages in their
careers, and it was quite intimidating. I don’t think I spoke for a couple
weeks. I mean, some of my peers were drama teachers for years! Some, are
already working at famous institutions that provide theatre for youth, and some
even have their very own theatre companies! In my Theatre for Young Audiences
class, the second session, I caught part of a conversation so dominated with
educational jargon that I thought, “Maybe nobody would notice if I just
packed up my bag and backed out of the room slowly...very, very slowly...How
will I ever compare? The people sitting around me really know what they’re
talking about.”
We all do our best to create lesson
plans and rehearsal schedules and execute them. We can do this because we are
for the most part, actors, dancers, choreographers, directors, and designers
with background and various degrees in theatre arts. Or we’re teachers, with
interests and experiences in the theatre.
However, there is a art to this field and a necessity to being trained
in the art of teaching drama. In my short time in the Educational Theatre
program at the City College of New York, I’ve already been given some
knowledge, language and tools to be a more effective educator in my current
position. I’m excited to embark on this journey.
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