Gospel Spotlight: Christian-based drama lessons assist GSAT students

At Balmagie Primary on West Bay Farm Road, St Andrew, grade-six students are exempted from drama class until after they have done the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). There is nothing to prevent them from joining the Drama Club though, and their teacher, Leighton Smith, has seen the Christian-influenced lessons he teaches them having a positive effect. Beyond that, he is hoping that the kernel of peaceful conflict resolution taught through drama will, through the students, spill over into the communities they are from. Those are mainly Waterhouse, with others coming from Olympic Way, Tower Hill and Riverton Meadows.

It is not, however, a matter of preaching to the students, Smith who is also an actor and comedian saying that a "proper structure" is established to counteract other tendencies.

"If I should give them a scenario, they would want to react in a vulgar tone because that is what they are used to. I have to use Christian principles. Now they look at things from both sides," he said.

It is only after the lessons have been taught to the group that individual students are told about their Christian basis.

"One person learns, and then it trickles down and you see great change," Smith, who preaches at the House of Prayer on Waltham Park Road, St Andrew, said.

He has seen drama's effect on the students' concentration levels. "It teaches them to focus. One of the things about drama is your environment. You have to make it work. It is that challenge. Drama teaches them to be creative, so when they are in class they are creative with their abilities," Smith said.

One grade-six student, Rolando Walcott, has increased his level of focus tremendously, to excellent results. "He was the type of person to be easily distracted, but drama helped him to focus and now he is rejoicing that he is going to Kingston College," Smith, who has been teaching at Balmagie Primary for about six months, said.

Then there is Altina Savery, who is going on to St Hugh's. Recently she did a media interview, handling it well. Smith said there was a time she would not do it, "but now she is ready to take on challenges and make her mark."

With the Christian-based conflict resolution principles being taught in drama throughout the school, Smith said: "I think it will go right over into the community, the knowledge of how to resolve conflicts in a more peaceful and amicable way, rather than taking it to violence."