MARCH IS THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH!
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We have compiled some great resources for you as you celebrate Theatre in Our Schools Month.
If you have additional resources to share with others please reach out to [email protected] Participate using #TXTIOS |
Week |
Goal |
March 1-9 ADVOCATE at School |
Show your Thespian pride and join the fun on Instagram with the Thespian Spirit Week photo challenge hosted by your International Thespian Officers. Follow @thespiansociety for details. |
March 10-16 ADVOCATE in Community |
Use announcements, displays, school media, and special presentations to the student body and faculty at your school or within your local school district. |
March 17-23 ADVOCATE to the Media |
Be present with displays and presentations in libraries and public spaces, stores, and contact radio, TV, newspapers, and online community sites/blogs/pages about your TIOS activities. |
March 24-31 ADVOCATE with Elected Officials |
Get in touch with school boards and other elected officials with TIOS information via presentations, handouts, emails, etc. TIOS Student Letter Template - School District |
LOCAL ADVOCACY
Most decisions about theatre in the school curriculum are made at the local level by principals, superintendents, and school boards. Be your school's advocate with tools from the EdTA Advocacy Toolbox.
Getting started
- Establish a positive and open communication channel with your school administrators.
- Make a point to learn when your school board meets and who its members are.
- Find out who the local decision makers are and reach out to them: the mayor, district school superintendent, city council, chamber of commerce, superintendent, etc.
- Build a network of supporters that you can call on when there is a need for quick action.
Teachers:
Contact other ITS troupe directors in your district to help organize a long-term theatre education advocacy strategy.
Contact other ITS troupe directors in your district to help organize a long-term theatre education advocacy strategy.
Students:
Participate in the year-round Theatre In Our Schools (TIOS) campaign, an effort to promote awareness of theatre education's value and purpose in schools across America, culminating in a month-long celebration in March. Encourage your fellow Thespians to do the same, and begin planning how you can promote TIOS at public events--shows, school board meetings, and your Thespian conferences. TIOS is jointly sponsored by the Educational Theatre Association and the American Alliance for Theatre & Education.
Participate in the year-round Theatre In Our Schools (TIOS) campaign, an effort to promote awareness of theatre education's value and purpose in schools across America, culminating in a month-long celebration in March. Encourage your fellow Thespians to do the same, and begin planning how you can promote TIOS at public events--shows, school board meetings, and your Thespian conferences. TIOS is jointly sponsored by the Educational Theatre Association and the American Alliance for Theatre & Education.
Community members:
Attend school board meetings and request to get on the agenda. Use the materials below to advocate for starting a theatre program or growing resources for the theatre program.
Attend school board meetings and request to get on the agenda. Use the materials below to advocate for starting a theatre program or growing resources for the theatre program.
If you know of additional resources we should add to this page please reach out to [email protected].
Arts education benefits all students!
STATE & NATIONAL ADVOCACY
The Educational Theatre Association’s network of state-based organizations provides the foundation for strong advocacy through the coordinated efforts of our chapter directors and individual chapter leadership.
We have gathered numerous resources for you to use in your advocacy journey.
We have gathered numerous resources for you to use in your advocacy journey.
If you know of additional resources we should add to this page please reach out to [email protected].
Getting started
- Download the EdTA Statement of Educator Support letter and be prepared to use it if you, your district, or state is facing a challenge to theatre education.
- Reach out to your chapter director to help organize a coordinated theatre action advocacy plan.
- Find out if your state is represented on the organization’s Advocacy Leadership Network; if not, consider applying or recommending another member from your state.
- Know who your state senator and house representative is.
- Find out when these bodies are meeting and what bills are pending.
- Look into who sits on the education committee (if there is one) and whether or not there is legislation pending that could impact arts education in your state.
- Learn whether or not your state has an annual arts advocacy day and begin planning how you and your peers—both students and adults—can participate.
Advocacy at Work
Want to see an example of state advocacy in action? Here's an example from West Virginia. West Virginia Chapter Director Martha Louden describes how West Virginia Thespians were able to obtain a $10,000 annual grant from the state legislature to help send their Chapter Select show to the International Thespian Festival.
Want to see an example of state advocacy in action? Here's an example from West Virginia. West Virginia Chapter Director Martha Louden describes how West Virginia Thespians were able to obtain a $10,000 annual grant from the state legislature to help send their Chapter Select show to the International Thespian Festival.
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