How theatre education can save the world | Rachel Harry | TEDxMtHood

By its very nature, the theater demands inclusion, cooperation, responsibility, and coming to grips with one’s emotions-even when it’s simply playing a role. “This is powerful medicine for the teenager,” Rachel Harry muses. For Rachel, art requires creativity and the confidence that comes from outside-the-box thinking, even when the results are a few lumps and bruises. For her work teaching teenagers, she recently won the Tony Award for Excellence in Theater Education. Rachel believes teaching should be student-driven and wants students to explore and to reach and to fail, because all of those things - especially failure - will lead to new avenues of learning. She began her career as an English and Theatre teacher at a small high school in Hood River, Oregon. Building on a single introductory-level drama class, she now leads a four-year program in which students can receive both high school and college credit. For her visionary leadership, Rachel Harry was honored with the 2017 Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education. Rachel is currently faculty at Hood River Valley High School and Columbia Gorge Community College. She also directs several productions a year, and performs as both an actress and a dancer. Sixteen years ago Rachel founded the Commedia dell’Arte troupe, “Phoenix Theatre” which performs in a wide variety of venues-from farmer’s markets to “The Bite of the Gorge” to the Oregon School Board Association annual convention. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@sadiesstuff4270]

She's my theatre teacher!! She's absolutely amazing!! She is one of the best and most caring people I've met. I actually had no idea She was on Ted- this is kinda blowing my mind seeing her on this stage all this time ago. Fantastic!! ❤❤

[@GarrettEderer]

Her main point- you can learn life lessons through drama and schools need longer drama programs with more qualified teachers.

[@KOSMICole]

This talk is EVERYTHING! Theater and dance arts like music and art cultivates creative thinking, innovation, understanding and deeper human connection in a conflicted world.

[@livlyfe3272]

Amen! Loved this. The theater is truly the answer. It's a place where people grow, change and become better people.

[@risin4949]

A wonderful and accurate reply, thank you.

[@judichristopher4604]

"Amen Sista.. Amen"

[@SaravananEnglishTrainer]

Wow! Her aspirations are amazing !

[@sushilasorokhaibam3512]

We need people more just like you mam. I love your speech .but the surrounding we are living is amazing. Love you Mam.

[@judichristopher4604]

Yes Ma'am... we do need more people like her.

[@heyheyhey40]

I am a qualified music teacher and professional performer. All of my Theatre training has been on stage in productions that I have performed in ie operas and musical theatre. Even though I don’t have a degree in theatre, my students are still getting exactly what they need to be future performers. I understand what she is saying, but requiring theatre teachers to have master’s degrees in theatre would shut down MOST programs.

[@vythilingumashven3982]

this lady spoke her soul! its real contwmplation.

[@barnitapramanik5579]

Thank you

[@clarabellegerard4392]

Why are there no comments here? This is absolutely incredible! She delivered an excellent speech!

[@noahmccarthy8007]

Love you Krum! I loved teching for you and I hope other students get as much from you as I did!

[@glutkar95]

We need theatre now more than ever!

[@judichristopher4604]

Reading your post literally gave me chill bumps. I am coming out of retirement so I can not only go back into teaching Drama for Stage and Film... but to also combine life strategies... for these troubling times. I am also a NLP (Neuro-Linguistic) Hypnotist... which helps kids of all ages to know that they are in charge of their future and can "Reframe" their thoughts and emotions. I was a "Foster" child, and was Blessed with great Mentors... I just hope that I too can help kids to not only Act... Dance... and also Live a more productive life.

[@adamajoseph3011]

beautiful

[@balwantthakur2186]

Good....... Balwant Thakur Theatre Director, INDIA

[@thatoneguy2209]

Hello fello classmates in drama

[@Expression24]

I too want to teach theatre

[@premsansar3593]

Love from Nepal. Truly love play

[@gusschrankel1967]

im in her drama one class this year

[@Vincent-lw1sk]

So how it went?

[@salvadorbermudez4862]

yeah man, we wanna know

[@judichristopher4604]

Hello... how did your class go?

[@pale_profile7237]

Idk if they’re active. I think it prob went well for em

[@n00nday]

This is a terriffic talk, I feel like the format didn't help her at all. She would have done better a bit more relaxed and personal. I'd love to see her classroom work.

[@imugomi8285]

John Barclay it's amazing.

[@noahmccarthy8007]

Agreed. It's a lot more powerful to see her in her element.

[@Savvyroks]

I wanted to use this until she mentioned the drama qualifications as a visual art friend will be taking two of my drama classes so I can take music until we get a new music teacher and I know her classes will be like "why are you teaching us then if you don't qualify to teach drama as you're only an art teacher?"

[@sheenamaeacabo8076]

Wow.

[@james7882]

Who else in drama class rn

[@thatoneguy2209]

Eyyyy

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

no one, we're all in our 40s

[@Vincent-lw1sk]

14:53 dancers be like

[@GagikRaidenson]

Senrozm fans can like this

[@bluestud5149]

Nomnom

[@nserekoaisha2960]

am a maid but looking looking for money so that I can travel to her country and join her class

[@GagikRaidenson]

When Senrozm almost has as many views as this vid

[@stellaaccettola9127]

swss

[@scottiecorley4954]

Do not get a theatre degree. Its useless. You can work yourself into theatre. Get a degree in something useful.