On Thursday, May 8, Edna kindergarteners, first, second and third graders will experience The Yuck Show, led by Brian Whittington. The Yuck Show combines science spectacles, silly audience stunts, and comedy in a new way to inspire young minds.
The Texana Arts Council teamed up with EISD to try it out with Edna, and hopefully look to do the same with Industrial and Ganado.
“We applied for a grant with the Texas Commission of the Arts, and they have a list of people in different categories: performers, education, cultural, storytelling and more,” said Shelley Srp of TAC. “They provide a discounted rate if you apply for a grant.”
The Texas Cultural Trust, a non-profit based out of Austin, found suburban schools offer 59% more arts courses than rural schools.
In addition, students who are more highly engaged in the arts in Texas are twice as likely to meet advanced placement exam criteria, and up to 46% more likely to pass Texas Success Initiative criteria. The trust also found those students are 20% more likely to earn college dual credits.
“We’re seeing a decrease in arts in our schools,” Srp said. “So with the arts council, it’s molded me into wondering how we can help the schools more and increase some areas in need.”
So enter The Yuck Show. Each grade will enjoy their own show during school on May 8. The Yuck Show website said the audience is divided into two teams to compete in curriculum- based science games and big, highly visual demonstrations, not to mention some explosions.
The winning team gets the ultimate prize, to be slimed.
“We’d love to increase our partnership with the schools, but we’re growing and it’s still a volunteer board, so we’re just getting our feet wet,” Srp said. “And with the sponsorships of the Texas Commission on the Arts, HEB, and INVISTA, we’re able to bring this one-of-a-kind show to Jackson County.”
