The performance was wildly successful. For the first time in my experience
everyone could be heard and understood. More importantly, the feedback
from teachers in other grades and from parents invariably included the
statement, "I really think we learned something about the Oregon Trail!"
Anyone who has ever done any sort of "class play" with elementary school
students knows how unusual it is for the unbiased members of the audience--the
ones who are not parents of the actors--and especially children, to really
understand and learn from the play. But this one was extremely clear
and engaging, and I think even the Jr. Kindergarten stayed with us for
half an hour and understood the story. At that moment, of course,
all of the frustration and hard work and self-doubt that had plagued me
seemed worth it, and, much more important, the frustration and hard work
of the students seemed worth it to them. I spoke with many parents,
and they all felt that their sons understood the process by which
they had arrived at this successful point, and that is probably the best
result of all. My own teaching philosophy can be clearly seen by
comparing the amount of ink spent on the various phases of this project--creative
process, rehearsal, and performance. Learning from the process is
always my ultimate goal at the elementary level. (But I enjoy a truly
successful product as well as the next guy!)