Sanja Obaha, Srednja trgovska šola Maribor, Maribor
The article demonstrates the ability of technical and vocational students to put on a puppet show and act it out in front of an audience. The project “Naše gledališče” (i. e. Our Theater) was carried out at the Commerce Secondary School in Maribor. The idea itself frightened many teachers and most of them were convinced that the tasks assigned to the students presented too much of a challenge. At the end of the day, public performances of all the students pleasantly surprised the teaching staff as well as the headmistress. Having arrived at school, students received instructions on how work would proceed. The ultimate goal was to put on a puppet show in four hours and at the end of that time to carry it out in front of an audience. This included drafting or modifying a dramatic text, making puppets and scenery, and rehearsing the performance. The resources they had at their disposal were making material, a teacher – mentor to guide them, access to the Internet, and of course their imagination. The day concluded with a performance competition. Each class performed their show in front of other students, teachers and the evaluation committee. The results were excellent. Students followed detailed work instructions, cooperated with each other, browsed the Internet for innovative ideas, and at the end created five to ten minute puppet shows, fascinating the audience and each other. For many of them this was the first opportunity to perform in public. The best were rewarded with special prizes. The project day ending, students expressed their desire to repeat it. Working while still having fun accomplished, in addition to the final goal, also other objectives: cooperation, creating literary art, developing creativity and manual skills, learning about different dramatic techniques, using the internet as to quickly obtain useful information, and performing in public. Our project proves students of technical and vocational secondary education are under detailed guidance, with the help of excellent tutors and with a lot of goodwill more than capable of creative and independent work.
