Monday, October 06, 2008

My Program is Imploding...

I don't understand. I have a great group of kids, I am doing things they say they want to do, I am knocking myself out trying to make things great for them and still they insist on letting little things make them quit the program.

I don't know if it is becoming too incestuous and not enough new kids. I don't know if I'm putting too much pressure on certain kids or what. I have never seen this happen before in a theatre program and I am at a total loss as to what to do.

I love my job, I love my kids, I love theatre, but right now I am ready to give it all up and just teach English until I can find something else. Not really what I want to do, but it might be my only alternative to being miserable.

I am also going to not argue with kids who tell me they want to drop the class. I can't continue to fight with them. I think that is what they want, for me to beg them to stay. It's not going to happen. One of my best kids is trying to transfer. Before she came in I was told it was because she was mad about what happened on Friday in class while I was gone, when she came in she told me it was because she needed to work on other credits. I think she is lieing to my face, which pisses me off more than anything.

Somehow, since coming to this district I can't make a theatre program thrive, I did great at my last district and now, I am like the kiss of death for a program. It really is weighing heavy on me right now. I have some big decisions to make.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I haven't been a high school drama teacher for a while now however you must grow your program with the kids that want to be there, not the ones that want you to want them. I found that usually the that type of student is lacking something at home and wants you to subconsciously fill that gap.

Remaining eager and over prepared for each class is key in addition to your classroom management skills. Your class will reach an equilibrium and your year will be smooth and successful. You may loose a few whose bluff you didn't call but if you fall into the trap of "begging" them to stay they will own you the rest of the academic year...not the part they wanted = quit...mad at you = quit...and just wait untill they pull that crap during a production. Better to let em quit now and let your loyal student grow into the actors you need.

Just my 2 cents. A little about me, I finished my MFA in performance last spring and now I am working in NYC for a little while. I just picked up a European tour of Phantom of the Opera. I have been blessed here so far but I do miss teaching.

Let me know if you need any bad ass lesson plans or improv ideas...Justinglinn@mac.com