Schools bring 'wayang kulit' to classroom<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Who says that wayang kulit or leather puppetry can only be
\nperformed on special occasions? And who says that it has lost its
\ncharm and can only draw old people to watch it?<\/p>\n
That common perception does not hold true anymore, as some
\nschools in Yogyakarta have decided to take this art form into
\ntheir classrooms.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, state SD Negeri Baluwarti, Kota Gede, held
\na maiden wayang kulit show in its classroom, during which dozens
\nof students were mesmerized by the performance.<\/p>\n
Minus traditional Javanese music, puppeteer Ki Suroso, dressed
\nin Javanese traditional outfits, staged a play from the Babad
\nMahabarata on how the war between the powerful Astina and Pandawa
\nclans broke out, for fifth- and sixth-grade students.<\/p>\n
The persona of the wayang characters like Arjuna, Werkudoro,
\nGatotkaca and Durno -- which depict a variety of human traits --
\nwere shared in his unique, yet relatively less formal way to the
\nstudents, who were glued to their seats.<\/p>\n
In the two-hour performance Ki Suroso also inserted some
\nvaluable insights, rarely found in the textbooks, about love for
\nthe homeland and compassion for fellow human beings.<\/p>\n
These included the renowned episode of Kumbokarno caught in
\nthe dilemma between defending his homeland and siding with the
\ntruth.<\/p>\n
"Kumbokarno knows that Astina is breaking the law but he is a
\npatriot who fights to defend it to his last drop of blood,"
\nSuroso said, asserting how the students, as Indonesians, too must
\nlove and uphold the country's honor.<\/p>\n
Using his voice and moving the puppets with his hands, Suroso
\nsometimes cracked a joke or two, which drew raucous laughter from
\nthe students.<\/p>\n
Suroso also told the audience about Babad Mataram, which
\ncenters on the story of Ki Juru Martani who cut through a jungle
\nand founded the Mataram kingdom.<\/p>\n
"Now we have a pleasant life compared to our ancestors who had
\nto cut through jungle to build houses or a kampong. Our task is
\nto just continue the good deeds of our ancestors. As you are
\nstill young what you can do is to study hard and obey your
\nparents," said Ki Suroso in refined Javanese.<\/p>\n
The use of high Javanese was a deliberate attempt to
\ndemonstrate its use to the children. It was also meant to show
\nthe children that it is spoken differently if it is used to
\ninteract with peers, younger people or older people.<\/p>\n
School principal Toto Djujanto said bringing the wayang kulit
\nto the classroom was part of an attempt to introduce the students
\nto the richness of local culture.<\/p>\n
"After this show some schools (that held the shows) and the
\nlocal branch of the national education office will jointly
\nevaluate this method," Toto said.<\/p>\n
The decision to bring the wayang to the classroom was made by
\nthe Yogyakarta provincial administration and the Indonesian
\nPuppeteers Association (Pepadi).<\/p>\n
"Starting this month, the wayang will be presented in 11
\nschools in Yogyakarta and other schools will wait until the
\nevaluation of its effectiveness has been completed," Toto added.<\/p>\n
On that afternoon Ki Suroso concluded his session with the
\ncliche that the bad would always be defeated by the righteous.<\/p>\n
"Knights from Pandawa clan finally get the justice they
\ndeserve," he said.<\/p>\n
A student, Rohadi Amri, said,"It's nice. When a subject is
\ntaught in class, I always get light-headed and sleepy because I
\ncannot stand the seriousness and tension for hours."<\/p>\n
Rohadi enjoyed the play although he was not familiar with the
\nwayang characters.<\/p>\n
Another student, Dyah Martha Safitri, commented, "I wish all
\nsubjects could be taught through wayang because we wouldn't have
\nto sit tests. And there's no math."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/schools-bring-wayang-kulit-to-classroom-1447893297",
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