KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Band and choir teachers across the Kansas City metro have one common problem – They can't get all of their students to perform at the same time and have it sound like they are back in the classroom.
"Students had the option to either perform for me or record themselves practicing or learn something new and then we would give them feedback," said Clif Thurmond, director of bands at Lee's Summit West High School.
Those options, which were offered in the spring, also are being considered again for the upcoming academic year in Lee's Summit.
Stephen Rew, Ray-Pec High School choir director, said student safety is always top of mind.
"We are waiting to hear from the experts," Rew said. "If we have a socially distanced classroom, we are probably are going to be wearing masks."
Rew said he is thinking of multiple ways to educate his choir students, including an outdoor classroom.
"So, setting up a tent outside because we know this virus doesn't spread easily if you are outdoors," Rew said. "That is something that we are considering."
He also is considering how he will approach online learning.
"You find a recording of a choir that you are emulating and the kids have the music at home and you are playing that recording and they are singing along with that," Rew said.
In Kansas City, Kansas, drama students are performing online. Billy Brame, a drama teacher at Arrowhead Middle School, said he sees virtual classes for nine weeks as an opportunity to get creative.
"I just know it's so important that we give kids access to the interpersonal skills, to the kinds of things that come from getting a theatre education and just because we have the pandemic, I don't think we should limit the imagination," Brame said.
Despite the challenge of pandemic teaching, these teachers believe their classes should be taught, even if the presentation is unconventional.
SCHOOL POLL: Should electives like band, choir, drama, etc. be taught this coming school year or eliminated to make sure kids are focusing on those core classes? What do you think? @41actionnews
— Jordan Betts (@JordanBettsTV) July 24, 2020
"I think there is value in all of our elective classes," Rew said. "I certainly wouldn't have made it through high school if I didn't have those elective classes."
In a 41 Action News Twitter poll, 73,8% of respondents said they felt that electives should continue to be taught, while 26.2% said they should be eliminated. More than 1,000 people voted.
