This model has its defenders. “When students curate, they feel ownership,” says Kevin Okonkwo, principal of a Bronx middle school that replaced its traditional spring concert with a “TikTok Takeover Night”—a live show where students performed original sketches, dances, and remixes. Attendance tripled.
Student-led “entertainment boards” now decide on spirit week themes based on trending audio, create morning news segments that parody popular streaming series, and produce end-of-year videos that mimic the editing style of YouTube essayists. In some districts, students are paid (in community service hours or small stipends) to serve as “media ambassadors,” vetting which trends are appropriate for school-wide consumption.
Similarly, schools are using popular franchises to teach everything from Shakespearean themes (via Euphoria and The White Lotus ) to statistical reasoning (via sports betting discourse and YouTube analytics). Www Xxx School
Half the students groan. Half laugh. And a handful immediately start editing the video on their phones.
Across the United States—and increasingly, the globe—school-sanctioned entertainment has undergone a quiet revolution. The era of the traveling science wizard and the wholesome folk singer is giving way to something more immediate, more chaotic, and far more reflective of the screens in students’ pockets. Popular media is no longer a distraction to be managed; it has become the primary source material for school assemblies, talent shows, and spirit days. This model has its defenders
Schools are responding to a new reality: students spend an average of consuming popular media outside of school, according to a 2023 Common Sense Media report. To compete for attention, school events must mirror the pace, humor, and referential density of platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Twitch. The Double-Edged Sword of Relevance The benefits of this integration are real. When popular media is used effectively, it can be a powerful pedagogical tool.
Some schools are already piloting these ideas. Half the students groan
It’s a Friday afternoon in late spring. In a middle school gymnasium in Columbus, Ohio, a sea of students sits cross-legged on polished hardwood floors. The “Spring Showcase” is about to begin. But instead of a live band or a traveling magician, the school’s AV club dims the lights. The massive projector screen flickers to life.
School entertainment has changed. But school, somehow, remains school.
“That was great,” she says. “Now, let’s talk about copyright and fair use in Monday’s advisory.”