Thanks to everyone from the feedback on the evaluation today. There were some interesting patterns and insights. I'll highlight a few below just to give you some fodder for thought. I could give you some modder, but that would only...never mind....
1. If you were a first or second year Drama student, you basically praised and appreciated the sense of "family" that exists in Drama.
2. If you were a third or fourth year Drama student, you tended to lament the loss of the "family feeling" that goes with Drama.
[If you're interested, I can explain this phenomena!}
3. Almost everyone said that there is nothing to do about the large numbers in Drama, but here are few of the more insightful comments:
A. Stop letting it bother me. I can't please everyone.
B. It's time for a second person to be added to the director's title.
C. Folks just need to accept that there will never be enough parts for everyone.
D. Having two Drama I's in a year is a bad idea.
E. There are worse problems to have than having too many people in Drama.
4. Most people, and honestly, it was a majority, believe that the key to Drama being successful is accepting that you have to do what's best for the program instead of seeking what's best for you. That was the sentiment of the upper Drama students by far.
5. Most people in Drama I didn't appreciate peer feedback, but they failed to realize that peer feedback is more than a one-sided affair. It allows me to see the group dynamics that are hidden from my eyes otherwise.
6. Almost everyone in first period agreed that it was better to give opportunities rather than pure lessons. That doesn't surprise me, and it did verify that I did the right thing with you.
7. Almost everyone felt that all acting experiences are valuable, but at the same time, everyone insisted that performing in front of an audience is the ultimate goal.
8. At least one person in each class said the follwoing: "I enjoyed the academic portion the most because it helped me to understand the reasons why plays are the way they are", "I wish we had spent more time on Readers Theatre", and believe it or not, someone said, "Everything we did was beneficial."
9. Everyone, across the board, agreed that the start of this semester and the transition with me returning from surgery was hard. OK...true confession time....I actually returned four weeks sooner than the doctor permitted....I got away with it.
10. Many upper level Drama students took exception with lower level Dramas for not taking better care of the auditorium and the resources that belong to Drama. Just so you know...most of the messes after the production were created by the upper level Drama students. Read the next one for further clarification.
11. When you read 60 evaluations from two classes, it becomes very easy to glean information from them. Here is what Drama essentially boils down to as we move toward next year.
A. There are those who love Drama more than themselves. They talk in selfless terms, live their lives in school like it's true, and they are hurt and angered by those who don't share that love and commitment to the program. In other words, they treat everything we own as "their property" and treat it accordingly.
B. There are those who have one foot in the process who have one foot in the mix, and that foot seems to always be there when it's production time or when the situation benefits them. Otherwise, their foot is in the mix one minute and gone the next. They don't possess that sense of "I am part of the process." They see themselves as outsiders and alienated.
C. There is a third group, and it's primarily composed of males....no sexism here....and they just ignore the entire "drama" in Drama. Like me, they seem to accept that the "drama" in Drama is just a natural part of the process, so they don't let it bother them.
Most of what is occurring is quite natural. However, in order for the experience to be "all that it can be", I would love to be surrounded by the A and C members of this list. However, I know that it's not overly realistic that I'll ever receive that. We'll see.
MjB
P.S. Still no FACEBOOK account...be patient.
