How important can storytelling be if it’s not taught in school?
In a recent article in The New York Times by Frank Bruni entitled, “How to Get the Most Out of College,” he writes:
“Every successful pitch for a new policy, new product or new company is essentially a story, with a shape and logic intended to stir its audience. So is every successful job interview. The best moment in a workplace meeting belongs to the colleague who tells the best story… take a course that exposes you to the structure of narrative and the art of persuasion.”
For many years, storytelling was the means of communicating the important events of a group of people and carrying on the traditions of a tribe, sect or culture. The value of transmitting “oral history” was unquestioned as an essential skill for thousands of years. With the invention of the printing press and the rise of reading literary, less emphasis has been placed on oral history.
But on a personal level, “telling one’s story” remains as important as “reading, writing and ‘rithmetic.”
If story telling is such a valuable skill, why isn’t it taught in school?
The old adage of going to school to learn “reading, writing and ‘rithmetic” has been translated into Common Core requirements during the last decade. While these remain critically important skills for students, the value of verbal expression has been lost in the drive for mandated educational goals and standardized assessment.
In today’s educational environment, teachers can be faulted for not teaching to a state-mandated curriculum that will be measured at various intervals by comprehensive testing. In some areas of the country teacher salaries and retention have become directly linked with testing results.
So where is the incentive and the time to implement storytelling skills in the school curriculum?
Few teachers or school districts will defy the current movement for accountability by allocating time for public speaking, learning to express oneself verbally and telling a personal story. Yet, clearly, this is a skill that will shape an individual’s future, as Frank Bruni emphasizes in his insightful article.
If schools cannot be relied on to teach storytelling skills, then it falls to families to foster these skills as much as possible. Find opportunities to share the stories of previous generations, as well as the daily incidents of life in your family. Encourage everyone, even the youngest child, to share experiences and ideas, and give each person the time and opportunity to be the center of attention by “telling a story.”
For adults who need to hone their storytelling skills, seek out opportunities to relate stories to friends and colleagues. If you feel uncomfortable with this prospect, work with a professional who can help you shape a personal narrative and develop your speaking skills. Being able to represent yourself may be the key to achieving your personal goals — as well as modeling those skills for your children.
Practice your skills by telling stories and equip your children for success by finding ways to help them become storytellers.
Check back soon for more articles on public speaking, writing, speech-language pathology and executive function skills.