We, as a concerned group of students, alumni, and supporters of the arts, were recently informed of the unfortunate fate of the theater program at Eastern Technical High School, located in Essex, MD. Due to budget cuts, all theater classes have been terminated for the 2012-2013 school year. As many of you know and have personally experienced, ETHS (ranked 131st on Newsweek’s list of the 500 Best American High Schools) is a school that focuses heavily on academics and athletics. Theater Arts is one of the very few creative outlets that Eastern Tech provides, and it would surely be a shame to see it go. This petition is dedicated to our collective efforts to prevent the elimination of performance arts from our school community. The following is a personal narrative written by a senior involved in Eastern’s theater program and drama club:

Theater: when we hear the word, what do we think? Lights, maybe make up and tights, actors, and a stage; these may be the first things that come to mind, and they are certainly a part of theater, but they are not all of it. Theater is something far more than a simple place or performance. Ask anyone who is a part of theater and they will tell you the same thing; it’s a family, it’s safe, and it’s where they are happy.

As much as we would like to think that high school has changed over the last decade or so, it hasn’t. There are still “cliques” and social groups, there is still teasing, and there is still bullying. Most of the people who go through this are those without a “group” to belong to, but that’s what theater does. It provides a group for students to express themselves openly and freely; where someone can be anyone, especially themselves.

The theater program gives people a chance to experience the thrill and joy of the stage and performing arts. Without this class to ease students into the idea and pace of the theater most would never join and find something that they truly enjoy. In the process of being involved, they find themselves to no longer be alone, or weird, or out-casted because now they are with people who share their interests. None of that would be possible without theater class. It is such a vital part of the high school experience and it would be a shame if it were abolished.

Ask anyone in the school what their favorite arts class is, and a majority will say theater. Kids need a way to express and find themselves and that’s exactly what theater does. Theater is where everyone is on equal grounds, can relax and have fun, and most importantly they can have a moment to breathe from the restricting world of academics. This is especially true at Eastern Tech, where the curriculum may be more challenging than at other high schools due to our vigorous and advanced programs. It’s been proven over and over again that the arts (greatly theater) are beneficial to a student’s growth.

If the concern is about class sizes, then I ask of you this: give students the option to choose theater and see how many sign up. If you need a comparison then please, tell me how many students are rushing to sign up for calculus this year.