~Dramatic Empowerment~

Throughout my own experience in public school, I have found that lately our education system has been largely ignorant of a child's need to incorporate kinesthetic learning into their daily educational experience. Theater, especially when offered as an optional after-school program, not only filters out those who are uninterested or forced into the "class," but it also creates a hub for those genuinely interested in the art. Additionally, it provides a space to meet and enjoy theatre without compromising space in the students' school schedules.

Theatre gives children individual platforms to voice and be open about their opinions as they become more educated and diversified in a safe space, which also boosts their confidence. Using the arts to educate students about current issues in a monitored area will also allow students to learn first-hand about the importance of understanding others' opinions. This additionally has the potential to lower the amount of bullying.

Furthermore, not only does it allow students to focus in on their own opinions and allow them to build their own moral foundations, but it also grants them the opportunity to engage with other students and the opinions of those around them. These integral, initial ties with others connect students to their outside community. When in tangent with a heightened platform, students feel more comfortable expressing themselves, understanding their roles, and growing an understanding of how to overcome their differences between fellow citizens.  

Kids Are Dramatic literally gives children a stage upon which they may perform while incorporating the students directly into the lessons. This provides students with the confidence they need to speak up for what they know is right. Over the course of just a few months, I have watched my students evolve from being shy and second-guessing themselves to defending their friends against teasing or bullying in front of an entire classroom. Though these students still have long journeys in front of them, the effect that KAD has made on them has most certainly been impactful.

As proven in some studies on Youth Empowerment, students tend to benefit when in smaller, more localized programs.  Kids Are Dramatic is a citywide, if not district-wide, program and aims to remain as involved with the direct community as possible. This enables the scale of the program to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the Colorado Springs area, something that is relatable to each and every one of its youth. By showing them how to identify problems, make changes, and engage with their peers and community members, they can then learn how to bring these skills wherever they may go in their lives.

Studies have also shown that reflections conducted by the students in integers throughout the program tend to drive home the main points of the lessons. Kids Are Dramatic has already established a journaling routine, which invites students to reflect upon what they have learned during each and every lesson and/or rehearsal session by logging their progress throughout the program. Consequentially, students are actively making a commitment to the change they are willing to see in themselves throughout the meetings. Another discovery supported by research is that groups, which begin with a greater amount of diversity, have the greatest amount of measurable progress per student. One of the biggest goals for Kids are Dramatic is to expand the program from Horace Mann Middle School into the greater Colorado Springs area, diversifying the demographics involved.

Finally, one of the most important things to remember is that the program itself is an experiment of sorts, which also needs to focus on progressing and bettering itself for the students in it. Through this blog post, frequent meetings within the employees, and research conducted from leaders to students, Kids are Dramatic is keeping constant track of its own journey and determining what is most beneficial for the students and the program.