ABSTRACT
Societies have always needed a thinking populace, people who are able to consider issues of importance, draw conclusions and make decisions that benefit society as a whole, while being considerate of the individuals within that society. This basic societal need is unlikely to change, thus it is the responsibility of all educators to foster children’s ability to think productively, effectively and responsively when faced with problems. The future, however, offers few certainties. The children who will become the thinking adults of the new millennium must be encouraged to recognise that flexibility and change are likely to dominate the twenty-first century, and teachers need to be constantly on the lookout for strategies that will foster reflective and innovative thinking. Drama, and in particular process drama, has much to offer as it engages children in authentic problem solving within the safety of the drama experience and within the security of the classroom with a teacher they trust.
