It's not your average classroom, the students get to learn through stories, through art, music and they even get to compete."Theater here is something else, it's different and we are pushed a lot hard than I believe some people, it's kind of our other house," says AHS senior Dempsey Rayqueljones.
Mr. Clay Freeman is Theater Director at Abilene High, but his students view him more than just a teacher, more like a mentor.
Rayqueljones adds, "Mr. Freeman he's our father, our grandfather, everything but our teacher sometimes we consider him a higher being. He's something, he's a teacher that teaches us in different ways, in ways that we know, he knows we'll get the most out of."
Senior Tommy Fogle says, Mr. Freeman is a very compassionate man.
"He's just really loving and caring and he truly does care about each and everyone of his students."
But Tommy says he can be tough, but it's a good thing.
"We learn things ourselves, we go through that ourselves. A lot of trial and error but its for the best. I mean he lets us grow
when we are doing a play as characters and just as people, ourselves, without forcing us into anyone in which way and letting us make choices, letting us make mistakes and growing and learning from those.
Mr. Freeman says his favorite part of teaching is the students and he's learned a lot.
"I think that I've learned to be really patient., I've tried to be as patient as possible. I am not a very patient person. I've learned to listen very carefully. I've learned to be attentive and observant as much as possible. I try to really pay very close attention to what all the vibes that the students are giving off that they aren't speaking because that's the real heart of how you work with students , I think is understanding what they don't say."
His senior students say they will miss him.
"I am really going to miss this department and Mr. Freeman next year," says Fogle.
Congratulations to Mr. Clay Freeman from Abilene High School!
