Cacophony and Fugue: pre‐service narratives create conversation about drama education

Abstract

Abstract Teacher preparation seeks to develop reflective practitioners who examine and re‐examine teaching and learning, knowledge, beliefs and values. Articulation of teacher voice‐‐use of language to explain, describe, question, explore or challenge‐‐is vital. Teacher voice implies that a teacher can speak her or his own truth and be heard. Inherent barriers in teacher education, especially in drama education, impede reflection and teacher voice. These include: (a) isolation‐‐particularly problematic in drama education‐‐students feel marginalised in both theatre and education departments; and (b) student culture favouring practice over theory, a perception created when education departments ignore arts students and drama methods texts ignore education theory. Three drama educators, two Canadian and one American, use drama student teacher written cases to develop reflection and community in pre‐service secondary drama teachers. The cases are introduced during the methods class. While each case can be exp...