Big League
Theatricals contracted On Location Education to provide
the instruction for the ten children in our production. The children
were divided into two groups of five- grades 1 through 4 and
grades 5 through high school. I was in the 4th grade at the time.
The two tutors that toured with us were certified teachers and
each one was responsible for one group of five children. In addition
to working as teachers during the day, they were also our wranglers
during performances. Our tour involved alot of traveling by bus
(take a look at our Itinerary page)
When we were
on the move (traveling), school took place on the bus. Only when
we were in one location for several days was school held in a
conference or meeting room in the hotel and occasionally at the
theatre.
Tables were
set up in the front of the bus for school. These tables could
be taken down and placed under our seats whenever we departed
early, for our next destination. We would sleep until the start
of school and then set the tables up again. School usually began
at 10:00 AM and occasionally at 11:00 AM. We were each assigned
two seats on the bus that we could call our own. My two seats
were on one side of a table which I shared with Troy, "Louie",
who was also a 4th grader.
It was a difficult
adjustment adapting to school on the bus. The table area which
we shared was small. Sitting opposite 1st and 2nd graders who
were being instructed by the teacher, we were still expected
to concentrate and complete our work. I was often bus sick caused
from reading/studying while traveling (ever since I was a toddler,
I'd get headaches if I tried to read while traveling in the car)and
I traveled backwards instead of forwards (I faced the back of
the bus). We adjusted and adapted.... and I wouldn't give up
the experience for anything.