One of the areas of teaching in which I am certified is Drama. It has always irritated me that it is often considered a non-academic subject. Nothing could be further from the truth. Drama, while it has its own intrinsic value, can also be used as a vehicle to teach a number of other subjects.
A production usually begins with reading the play. Students are called upon to read aloud. In a class, becoming familiar with the play can take some time. It can include studying the author, the history of the time the play was written to provide insight into the author's perspective, the information found in the play, the characters in the play if it is about real people, the setting of the play as a study of the history of the time if that is appropriate, and a number of other things which relate to other subjects taught in school.
Most plays have sets and costumes. Mathematics, color analysis, and carpentry are some of the subjects involved in building a set and constructing costumes. Students can be taught how to calculate what is needed to fill a stage and how much material is required to build a set or make costumes. It is important to remember that these are application skills. These are, essentially, the word problems in books, but they are real. If there is a miscalculation, it is going to be apparent in the result. What better way to learn.
In addition to all of the subjects which can be incorporated into a drama production, there are the many social and personal skills which are developed. Students are given responsibilities. They learn to depend on themselves and each other. There are real life consequences and rewards which are earned by their behavior, effort, and commitment.
Drama, as well as speech and related subjects, provide students with an opportunity to learn to communicate effectively. Because of these experiences they will find themselves confident and comfortable during job interviews and other situations which require them to handle themselves and their lives effectively and competently.
Music provides experiences in mathematics and is considered a technical degree by some. Articles frequently appear which suggest that a child exposed to classical music at a very young age shows signs of developing a brain better suited to learning.
The arts (painting, drawing, sculpting, etc.) develop a sense of perspective and color as well as powers of observation. They also foster patience and commitment. One of the challenges of teaching students how to write is getting them to understand that authors do not just write a first draft. There is a great deal of rewriting. It takes time and effort. Doing art work which takes time shows students that many things take time to do right.
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