Wednesday, January 9, 2002
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Wednesday, January 9, 2002 |
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Theatrical performances show students positive ways to channel anger There is nothing wrong with being angry as long as the anger is channeled in a positive way was the message third, fourth and fifth grade students at East Fayette Elementary School received as they watched a performance on anger by the actors of the Academy Theatre. The performance the students watched titled "When I Feel Angry," designed for grades three to five, looks at the complex issues of resolving conflicts. Children learn about empathy, the consequences of anger, and how to recognize and control one's own anger. Through the use of various skits and audience participation, the performers of the Atlanta-based theater company acted out different situations that could cause someone to get angry. Instead of using anger to hurt someone verbally or physically, the actors showed students various ways to resolve conflicts that would result in a positive outcome for everyone involved. Some of the lessons taught included walking away from angry situations, ignoring those who try to evoke anger, taking emotions out on an object instead of a person or getting the help of an adult. "I thought the skits were really good because they teach that you shouldn't use anger on people. Instead you can take it out on something that you are playing with. That's what I do. I usually find something that I can take my anger out on," said East Fayette fifth grader Alexander Lunn. Seven Fayette elementary schools, four middle schools and one high school hosted Academy Theatre performances. While the elementary schools focused on anger management, students at the secondary schools saw a performance called "Bullies and Bystanders," a play for grades six to 12 that explores how bullies are created, how students become victims and what the responsibilities of bystanders are in preventing violence. The "Bullies and Bystanders" performance was featured in the March 2001 edition of Time magazine. "I think these performances are fabulous. Children right now are dealing with lots of anger. These plays show them how to deal with anger in positive ways," said East Fayette Counselor Leslie Fear. After the main play ends, reinforcement of what was taught by the performances continues in the form of small group workshops where the actors work with students, eliciting their responses and making them more aware of their own issues and creative energies. During the anger management workshop, actors asked students to talk about how they handle their anger. Through different scenarios, the actors demonstrated what happens when anger is used in a negative way and then they replayed the scene implementing some of the students' positive ideas to see how the situation could be changed. "Our main message to the students is if you are angry that doesn't make you a bad person. It is how you choose to handle the anger that determines the person you are," said actress Pauline Lewis. The theater group's nationally acclaimed programs present original plays based on issues parents, teachers and students have said are of concern to them. It was founded in 1961.
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