It’s important to have the arts in our local schools

Hillary Ratliff
Published: February 6, 2008

I am a student at Culpeper Middle School. My perspective of the performing arts in school is that they are an experience needed in middle school.

When people get involved in shows they get to enter a whole new world.

In my experience at CMS, drama has been really fun! Also, out of the productions I've been in, every play has been well rehearsed, has taken a reasonable amount of time and ends with a spectacular show. Each play brings a new kind of crowd, a new set of actors and a whole new person to become.

I've learned so much from drama: how to project, proper blocking techniques, how to correctly pronounce words and how to work as a team.

I've been to one competition and having never seen amateur's perform, other than people that I know, I found other plays unique. That's one thing about thea-tre that I enjoy - all the diversity!

Drama helps in all kinds of ways, whether it's just to get a smile or a laugh out of someone or to give someone who cannot truly express themselves a way to do so.

I've met many people who honestly have little to do without drama. I've met antisocial people who, when put in a production, can outshine half of the cast.

Drama helps students educationally to grasp the concept that we need to be willing to accept people for who they are and not judge them for what they do.

That subject may not be one that is taught in school, but it is a subject that really will help with a student's education in life.
Please keep the arts in our schools!