Drama inom den obligatoriska skolan

In this paper, I have conducted a study of what perspectives educational drama has in theory and practice. The study aims to show an example of how and out of what perspectives educational drama is a part of the school’s activity at a geographically distinct school, from kindergarten on to primary and secondary school years. The general attitude of the faculty and their arguments for and against drama constitute the major aspects of this study, which has been carried out through qualitative interviews at a school in Skåne. The results were that pre-school focuses on teaching drama to develop communicative abilities amongst the students (art educational perspective) while secondary school seemingly abandoned this approach and focuses more on using it for personal development, increasing empathy and understanding of other people by taking it to a more emotional level in order to affect for example moral values of the students. Though I find that the faculty in general has a positive attitude towards drama, they expressed they do not wish to increase it either as it would steal focus from the traditional “core” subjects. It is a fact that the national school plans for kindergarten, primary and secondary schools (LPFÖ98, LPO94) do not give any specific guidance on to what extent drama should be used in practice or any directions on how to bring in drama as an integrated part in any particular subject. This, in conclusion, leads to that the responsibility to use drama as an integrated part lies solely on the teachers and drama is used in the education at their discretion, which in turn tend to weaken drama as a prioritized subject. In a highly competitive global environment it is of great importance that the Swedish school system adapts and focuses on progressive and dynamic tools such as drama to inspire pupils and student to higher ambitions