Dr. Singh's presentation opened with vivid photo images which illustrated the diverse contexts of childhood in India as encountered in classrooms all over the country. Some of the challenges to effective classroom teaching in India in any given school include large class sizes, inflexible and limited spaces in classrooms, numerous students seated in defined rows and columns, and time consuming academic curricula. She also mentioned that religious, linguistic and socio-economic diversity was integral to every classroom in the country.
Based upon her own work and research she had conducted she found that for all children there was enhanced engagement and participation in the classroom, and the activities promoted several cognitive, language and socio-emotional skills such as co-construction of ideas through the use of sequence, logic and performance; emphasis on dialogue through listening, comprehending and expanding thoughts; form, structure and flow of content; both oral and written forms of communication; as well as cultural literacy, confidence and a sense of security.
Of particular interest, however, were her anecdotes of how the application of drama and theatrical techniques helped to open "interaction spaces" with children who were living in difficult circumstances, and coping with terrorism and other forms of violence. Theater facilitated and initiated communication, enabling children to discover and recognize shared emotions and fears.
Theater in situations of conflict offered children pathways to author dialogues, a link to the inner self, non-threatening spaces for self-expression, no dislodging of loyalty or boundary, discovering common and shared experiences, identifying differing perspectives, and freedom for movement and creativity. Some experiences shared by these children were violent deaths of parents that led to termination of their schooling, having to work to support their families, watching their mothers struggle as single parents, illness and anxiety in family members, financial struggle with no state support. Using storytelling, games and improvisation children and their families found common fears but also derived collective strength. Theater allowed them a channel for their need to communicate their common pain, inner strife and their search for meaning and peace. These disclosures provided relief, and the sharing generated caring and healing. The workshops resulted in listening to each other, finding new friends and gaining strength from team work, and being motivated enough to move forward.
Dr. Singh's presentation included powerful images and photographs of children and teachers as they worked, laughed and cried together during this process. No doubt her work has great significance for use with children who are living in post-conflict societies, as well as in areas where great loss is experienced as a result of war, terrorism or natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis.
