With the COVID-19 pandemic pushing us to the corners of our homes, we have become accustomed to just sitting around or lying down with our laptops and smartphones. And thanks to the power of the internet, we can do almost everything virtually with just a click away. But this newly acquired sedentary habit poses more danger than we thought. Not only does it take a toll on our physical health but also on our mental well-being. Thankfully, now that we have gone back to school, there is a great push to integrate dance exercises into our school activities and an even greater push forward for incorporating national calisthenics dubbed as “Galaw Pilipinas”.
Dance is necessary for high school because it contributes to students’ physical, emotional, and social well-being by providing a method of physical awareness and fitness, an outlet for creativity and personal expression, and a means to develop social-emotional skills such as self-management. I know you are thinking that dance could be a trivial and not-so-essential activity for learners, but the science of it proves the opposite. And as a Mapeh teacher, I fully support this endeavor of the Department of Education.
It also helps children develop skills necessary for learning such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, risk-taking, decision-making, and the ability to think outside the box without rules. These skills are essential for modern-day living and are invaluable for developing the capacity to navigate this volatile, unpredictable, complex, and ambiguous world. With these skills, children can make sound judgments and form their own opinions, allowing them to become more independent and successful in their lives.
Furthermore, dance has important benefits for students’ social relationships, particularly among genders and age groups. Therefore, incorporating dance education into high schools is crucial for students’ overall development. Dance education can help bridge the gender gap and create a more inclusive learning environment. It can also promote an understanding of different cultures, as students learn forms of dance that originate from other countries. In an increasingly globalized world, a greater appreciation for diverse cultures can be incredibly valuable.
By: MRS. MARIA CRISTINA Z. REYES | TEACHER III | BATAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – JHS | BALANGA CITY, BATAAN
