To insist that drama is not a valid choice for GCSE's

[FaintlyBaffled]

....when the student in question has never expressed the faintest interest in the subject in nearly 14 years
DS has his heart set on taking GCSE drama. I maintain it's a bonkers choice given that his only acting experience to date was as a leaf in a school assembly in yr2.
To compound this, he is planning to give up a subject that has interested him since he was a toddler, as it falls in the same block as drama. He has a natural gift at this subject and has just received glowing reports in his most recent review.
I'm wary of opening hostilities over something that I can ultimately win in the short term (I have to sign the form to say I agree with his choices) but that he could win in the long term by flunking the subject. We've so far agreed not to do anything until we've discussed this in more detail with the school, but he's unusually truculent about the whole affair. AIBU to put my foot down and insist that he doesn't "waste" an option on this?

[HidCat]

As someone who works in theatre I would say drama could give him more options than history. If he wants to teach it will give him the ability to stand in front of an audience and present himself well, as a musician it helps him present his music and there are so many historical plays that could help his understanding in those areas as well. History can often be engaged through drama and also through his own hobbies outside of school. Don't discount it just because he hasn't expressed interest thus far. Plus, if he decides it's not for him and he'd rather do History later, he should still be able to.

[tumblrpigeon]

Let him choose !

[Mummyontherun86]

He is only 14, how sad that showing a new interest is already a problem! No doubt he’ll be doing all the standard English, Maths, Science - so why on earth can’t he choose to try something new? You sound very keen to be ‘in charge’. What are you afraid of? Worse worse case, he flunks GCSE drama...

[hattyhighlighter]

YBVVU it's his life, let him choose for himself

[mari652]

""Drama is very good for confidence, and it can help with presentations in the future. Often at university or job interviews they will have to present in front of an audience and this is nerve racking."

This.

And a mix of types at GCSE is no bad thing - don't get too hung up at this stage about only having more traditionally academic subjects. One of my daughters who did more science based A levels and at Uni, did both dance and drama GCSEs. The drawback to drama was the heavy essay component and the common drawback to them was the group work ( especially the dance). An uncohesive exam group can cause stress but it is also a very good life lesson in group dynamics and diplomacy . (There's a big back story to that last sentence but all turned out right inthe end

[FluffyWuffy100]

I did drama - it was quite hard and needed a lot of extra time! And your grade is kinda dependent on other people in your performance group willing to put the effort in.

[entropynow]

Nope. Utter waste of time.

[Rachie1973]

FaintlyBaffled
Well, in the ultimate drip feed...
DS wants to be a teacher and history has indeed been mooted as one of the subjects of choice. I'm as certain as I can be at this point that he will go into teaching, what it is in doesn't overly concern me.
History is only being cast aside (I think) because of the clash with drama.

Well like I say, I have an English/Drama Secondary level teacher child embarking on her PHD. It can happen with Drama.

[YouTheCat]

Dd made poor choices with her A levels, insisting that Media Studies and English Language were what she wanted to do instead of computer studies, that she was consistently brilliant at. I let her get on with it. She wasted 2 years on subjects she actually found tedious because her friends had chosen them (I suspect).

All was not lost. She went to college after A levels and took the NVQ3 in computers and is now in the final year of her degree in Cyber Security.

Do you think your ds wants to do Drama because of other kids who are taking the subject?

[GerdaLovesLili]

I love history, I make historical clothing for money, I spend a good chunk of my year being a Tudor, I did a history degree.

I didn't do it at A level or O level. It really doesn't make any difference. Let him do drama.

[FaintlyBaffled]

Hmm, it seems I am indeed being utterly unreasonable.
Just to clarify though, I would absolutely agree with him doing it if he had ever shown any sort of interest in it, I just worry that two years is a long time to do a subject if he subsequently decides that he doesn't enjoy it after all (he's not usually known for being flaky but the decision to take drama has come out of the blue, I imagine it's entirely possible that it could fall out of favour just as quickly)

[endofthelinefinally]

Drama is a brilliant subject for gcse IMO.
One of the few things that wont be taken over by robots in the next 20 years.

[Pigflewpast]

Drama is not a waste of time. My dd did drama, having never done any out of school and loved it. It's really helped her confidence in every day life. DD3 want so go on to do law, has been advised to do drama over history by school, as the public speaking, team work and problem solving are apparently seen as more useful.
At the end of the day it's his life, his schooling and his choice, and if he feels strongly you should support him.

[Garby]

I did drama GCSE and theatre studies a level, much to my parents horror.
I now work in an incredibly maths focused role in the city but meet with clients on a weekly basis and my drama background is the only thing that gives me the confidence to present and to talk to new people.
GCSEs aren’t going to shape his life. Let him be.

[littlepeas]

I didn't do history gcse or a level but have a BA (joint with English, which I did do at A level) - dropping it now doesn't mean he can't pick it back up later.

[AjasLipstick]

Your rationale doesn't take into account that children change....they develop confidence. Your DS probably didn't think he had the nerve to try drama before.

YABVU to stop him. You should be encouraging him.

[Rachie1973]

FaintlyBaffled

At this point, they are shown the syllabus for the GCSE study.

It may be the whole new list may fill him with horror. It did my daughter! They went to WW2 and Pre-war Germany, Medicine in History & The Cold War.

My 16 year old hates history, and is struggling with it, despite loving it until GCSE years.

[ATailofTwoKitties]

Theatre Studies A-level, you say? DD is torn between that and English Combined (Lit & Lang) at the moment, to go with Spanish and History. Any advice? (Sorry for hijack!)

[britbat23]

As long as you get at least a C or whatever number they have replaced a C with in English and Maths it doesn't matter one iota what else he takes.

Let him do quadruple GCSE pole dancing if he wants.

Your support of him is much more important

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

has interested him since he was a toddler...

Can a toddler be interested in history?!

I'd want to discuss with him why he wants to choose drama over history, as it's a sudden unexpected switch. Is it that he wants to do drama or he doesn't want to do history? Does he have realistic expectations of what drama will involve?

If he wants to do a very competitive degree then getting the best GCSE grades possible helps, however in most degree applications dropping a point or two in one GCSE probably won't make a difference.

On the whole it's useful for teenagers to get experience making their own decisions.
I'd discuss it with him, listen to what he has to say, get him to listen to what you have to say, do some research, but if he still wants to do drama let him do it.

A level choices are much more important, it would be a shame if he resented you for forcing this decision and was then unwilling to listen to your advice about a level choices.

[ModreB]

DS3 did Drama, but concentrated on the backstage aspects, ie, lighting, sound tech, scene tech. He now has an unconditional offer of Civil Engineering at Birmingham Uni, due to his experience of lighting, sound tech, scene tech. Drama is not just acting, it's a whole experience of putting on a performance that leads to many other skills.

He is also an excellent actor and a talented singer and musician, but said he didn't want to spoil that by being made to do it rather than doing it because he wanted to.

[WhatToDoAboutThis2017]

YABVU. This is his life and his choice. It doesn’t matter what GCSEs he takes, it matters that he enjoys going to school.

Forcing subjects on your unwilling child will make him resent you and hate going to school, and he’ll lose interest in academics altogether.

If it turns out it’s a mistake, that’s a great learning curve for him. He needs to learn these things for himself.

[educatingarti]

Being able to act well is a really useful talent in teaching! The practical experience of a GCSE in drama could be so so useful.

I'd be tempted to step right back and say you will wholeheartedly support him in whichever one he chooses as long as he researches thoroughly what is required in terms of coursework, extra curricular activities, essays etc for both. Get him to ask teachers and write down what each course would actually be like, then let him make the choice. The more you push him, the more he may push in the opposite direction.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

It may be the whole new list may fill him with horror. It did my daughter! They went to WW2 and Pre-war Germany, Medicine in History & The Cold War.

This was the same syllabus I did over 15 years ago! We basically did ww2 and pre war Germany every year in secondary school, and it was also on the a level syllabus.
I was sick sick sick of it.
When I was an adult I found out that I had massive embarrassing gaps in my historical knowledge, such a shame that the school history curriculum isn't more varied. Of course studying ww2 is vital but not repeating it every year!