I have long felt we need to teach theatre in our elementary schools the same way art and music are taught. There’s such value in it for all children. Theatre is something all kids understand immediately because they’ve been doing it since age 1. Every time your kid pretends to be a space explorer, that’s theatre. Every time your kid pretends to be a mommy to her baby dolls, that’s theatre. Every time your kid pretends to be a bubble creature with see through vision and the ability to walk on water… that’s theatre, too.

And then sadly oftentimes that imaginative play is lost somewhere around 6th grade. And often with it is lost confidence and self actualization, bravery and strength of character. Theatre can keep that confidence going. Theatre is power and we need to empower our children.

I have heard the argument that theatre shouldn’t be its own ‘special’ but rather incorporated into classroom as a teaching tool more than its own discipline. I agree that it should be used in teaching literature and probably other areas as well, but there is a skillset to theatre that is makes it an important discipline all on its own. Acting is a natural skill all children possess to a greater or lesser degree, but it can be honed and students can learn to improve it just as one can improve their music skills and their artistic skills. Not all students continue to study music or art into high school and similarly not all students will study theatre in high school. But just as all children benefit from art and music in elementary school, all will be enriched by intentional learning of this very important discipline: theatre.