Keeping the Kids in School: What the drama class tells us

Abstract

This study used questionnaires and interviews to discover senior secondary students’ perceptions of their drama class experiences in three different schools from an Ontario public board of education. Questionnaire results from entire classes supported interview results from four students in each class. No notable differences in student perceptions emerged, either between boys and girls, or among the three schools. Findings uncovered student attitudes about scholastic motivation, retention, and success that might be applicable across subject areas. For example, they enjoyed opportunities for physical mobility, peer interaction, and self-expression. They praised authentic, challenging, and relevant learning tasks that culminated in displays for audiences beyond their own classrooms. More than subject content, students valued drama class as a vehicle for enduring personal and social growth.