Teaching Folklore Thru Puppetry: A Manual for Social Studies and Language Arts Teachers in the Secondary Schools

Abstract

In a world where rapid social change and intellectual growth are becoming more and more commonplace, there is a growing need for greater adaptability and flexibility in our educational institutions. In answer to this need, schools are placing greater emphasis upon individual student awareness and participation while at the same time emphasizing the importance of the cognitive learning which parents and administrators demand from teachers. As educators, we must continue to find new ways of balancing the need for both cognitive learning and affective behavior in the classroom. Creative expression plays an important role in developing many new concepts for students who are learning to respond more rationally and openly to their changing world. At the base of the creative process is individual self-expression. Puppetry is one form of self-expression. It provides a means of bringing out the cautious and timid students who feel more secure expressing themselves behind a stage. Thus, puppetry serves to draw these students a step closer to open and unbidden self-expression.