In my last post I expressed the importance of teaching kindness and compassion when it comes to defeating bullying. However, I left you all hanging with the question "How does one TEACH kindness?" I will admit that this was actually quite the conundrum for me as well. How can someone teach kindness, compassion, empathy and courage which are all morals and values? I pondered many different ideas, all of which were like noodles that were not quite fully cooked; still yummy but if you threw them against a wall they wouldn't stick (anyone else do that when they are cooking pasta?!)
Then it finally hit me! What is one of the greatest teaching mechanisms in the world? Why, THE ARTS of course! Theatre, music and visual arts have forever been used as a way of telling stories and teaching lessons to wide audiences of all ages, genders, and economic and social backgrounds. The Arts know no bounds and tell us the stories and lessons that are sometimes hard to digest and yet somehow do it in a beautiful way that can resonate in anyone. The Arts are to a community as spinach is to Popeye (does the title make sense now?); it can give us superpowers making us stronger, wiser and united! Just as spinach is full of essential vitamins and nutrients, the arts are full of important life lessons and values that are essential to helping create a healthy person, school and community!
Then it finally hit me! What is one of the greatest teaching mechanisms in the world? Why, THE ARTS of course! Theatre, music and visual arts have forever been used as a way of telling stories and teaching lessons to wide audiences of all ages, genders, and economic and social backgrounds. The Arts know no bounds and tell us the stories and lessons that are sometimes hard to digest and yet somehow do it in a beautiful way that can resonate in anyone. The Arts are to a community as spinach is to Popeye (does the title make sense now?); it can give us superpowers making us stronger, wiser and united! Just as spinach is full of essential vitamins and nutrients, the arts are full of important life lessons and values that are essential to helping create a healthy person, school and community!
The Arts are to a community as spinach is to Popeye
What does this mean for me and my platform? It means that as I visit the Grand Forks community, I will be spreading my message of kindness, compassion, empathy and courage through a heavy dose of the arts! This creative solution to the issue of bullying uses fun group activities including music, role playing, writing, and skits to promote the morals and values that are proven solutions and preventers to bullying. These lessons are engaging, energetic, and exciting! I make a point of incorporating different learning techniques for everyone, utilizing audio, hands on and visual techniques. From skits that teach courage, sharing monologues and singing songs that require empathy and compassion to using "love lights" and special lectures and group conversations to express kindness. I also take time to share me own personal bullying story, making sure that listeners understand that even beauty queens know what it is like, and that they are never alone.
I have already begun the process of sharing my message this weekend by visiting with the Grand Forks area Girl Scout troops! Expect a blog on my time spent with them on Monday!
But for now, what are your thoughts? What has theatre/the arts taught you in the past? What ways can we use the arts to teach important morals and values such as empathy, acceptance and kindness?
I have already begun the process of sharing my message this weekend by visiting with the Grand Forks area Girl Scout troops! Expect a blog on my time spent with them on Monday!
But for now, what are your thoughts? What has theatre/the arts taught you in the past? What ways can we use the arts to teach important morals and values such as empathy, acceptance and kindness?