treehouserock

I found this article in the Chicago Tribune, and unfortunately it has absolutely nothing to do with “naturally occuring literary behavior.” So, I will stray once again from the original intent of this ‘edublog’, but I think this article is worth it.

First if you don’t know what Footwork is, visit these links before reading the rest of this post.

One

Two

OK now that you’ve seen a little bit of footworkin’, a Chicago Charter school, Catalyst Charter School has found a way to use Footwork to help keep at risk students in school.  The article in the Chicago Tribune describes footwork as:

Equal parts tap, break and African tribal dance, footworkin’ is the urban equivalent of ballroom.

At Catalyst–one of 15 schools opened in the fall–pupils also have the option of taking a footworkin’ class for credit. Three days a week, pupils learn the history of footworkin’ from instructor Christopher Thomas, a member of the award-winning footworkin’ “battle clique” Creation.

Pupils are also taught basic moves such as “dribbles,” in which the dancer mimics the footwork of a basketball player dribbling around an opponent. Pupils who stand out are offered a chance to try out for the school’s 16-member footworkin’ team

Administrators say the class and team seem to be helping youths get better grades. Parents say their children exhibit a newfound confidence, are more patient and frown at the thought of being absent because they don’t want to miss footworkin’ practice. “It makes them responsible for themselves and it focuses them,” Neis said of the pilot program. “It’s cutting-edge in terms of something that appeals to kids.”

Footworkin’ found its way to the West Side charter school via teacher’s aide Andre Minto, vice president of Chitainment, a group that manages local deejays and dancers in the footworkin’ community. When Neis asked the staff to suggest programs that would motivate kids, Minto dusted off a proposal that his group pitched to Chicago school officials in 2004, “The Jukology Incentive Program.” The idea is to create footworkin’ teams in grammar and high schools to promote academics. Over the years, Chitainment representatives said, they had encountered Chicago public school students who devoted countless hours to footworkin’ but were flunking school. They said they hope to create a citywide footwork league in which teams from different schools would compete for glory.

Full article here

According to the administrators at the school, the results have been very positive for the kids who are involved in footworking. To be involved in the dance team, students must maintain their grades and attendance. The article goes on to talk about a student named Maurice, who credits the school’s Footworkin’ dance team whth his success in school- for him it became that extra incentive to keep his grades and attendance up, so that he could be a part of the school’s dance team.

This is such a great example of a school that has found something it’s students do, out of their own volition, for hours outside of class, and used it to encourage and foster learning. The only down-side to a program like this, would be issues of funding – especially with our current educational lawmaker’s emphasis on standardized test scores. Aside dialogueLittle Jhonny raises his hand, and the teacher comes to his desk.“Yes Johnny?”

“Mr. Kade, where is the section on Footwork?”

“What section Johnny?”

“The part of the test where I get to show you my footwork?”

“I’m sorry Johnny, but there isn’t one. In fact I’m not supposed to even answer your questions during the MEAP exam. It’s just that some people think these tests are more important than finding ways to keep kids engaged in learning at school.”

“Oh man…”

So anyway, without becoming even more sarcastic…I think it’s great how this school has opened itself up to this extracirricular activity, after all, that’s supposed to be the point of extracirricular activities like various sports, music & drama in school right? They are there to help motivate students to do well, to foster good attendance and, hopefully learning.

Sources:

An Inspiration to Step Up – Footworkin’, a Chicago-born street dance, helps pupils toe the line at a charter school

By Johnathon E. Briggs

Chicago Tribune

More stories, pictures & video at: 

chicagotribune.com/footworkin