Education Emancipation Organization : The Wizard of Oz Readers Theater

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

The Wizard of Oz Readers Theater

At the end of July, I was sent and completely edited a silly version of "The Wizard of Oz" for a Readers Theater from a middle school in south of Taichung; that's all I was told.It had many errors of grammar, lacked fluency, and was contextually wrong. I deleted some references that weren't in the original film and put entrance of Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion (that had no teeth! not a bad symbol for cowardliness) ahead a minute in the plot. The theme was 'good prevails over evil, teamwork is vital, and home is a place worth returning to.' It could be read in under five minutes; the Reader' Theater limit. It wasn't easy to do the revisions with the on-line script attached to the e-mail and keep it under the time limit, but it was done. I would love to go help produce the show with the school and hope they request my assistance, but I was not told which school had requested it. I visited a few times on assignment from Kang Hsien Publishing. I was sent a dialogue adapted by one of their teachers.

Flash ahead three months to October. I was returning to Dong-Nan Girls Middle School, the paradise I visited and wrote about last January (Read "Dong Nan Girls' Middle School Paradise in Yun-Lin" here.) I had visited the school a few times on assignment from Kang Hsien Publishing; . Now they wanted to perform a Readers Theater they had been practicing and get my opinion; that's about all I could do. There was no time to make any changes with the contest approaching a few weeks later.

I was handed a Readers Theater script as I walked though the beautiful classroom to a subterranean dance studio where the troupe would perform for me to review. I was surprised to find the script to "The Wizard of Oz" I had edited before summer for an unknown recipient! How was I to know the script I edited was an adaption by one of their teachers? I heard that the school had asked another textbook publisher to send a foreigner to coach them. They hadn't asked me because the Kang Hsien agents changed and the one that brought us yesterday wasn't made aware. Not satisfied with the other's review, they contacted me. Unfortunately, there was only a half hour to hear and make adjustments to their presentation. I'm afraid my efforts will go for naught at the competition in a few weeks; they are not ready. I have to take it all in stride. Sometimes, if you wish real hard, the dream that you dare to dream really come true.

The Wizard of Oz

All (Sing): Somewhere over the rainbow. Way up high, there’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Narrator 2: Hello, everyone. Today we are going to take a journey with a girl, her dog, and a team of special friends.

Dorothy (Yells): Toto, come here! There’s a tornado coming!

Narrator 1 (as all hum ominously “da-da, da-da, da-da-da…”): That tornado was so strong it ripped Dorothy’s house from the ground and blew it way over the rainbow landing on a wicked witch.

All (Stamp twice)

Narrator 2: When Dorothy stepped out of the house, she heard little voices; the Munchkins.

Munchkin Mayor (Sings and bows): And we welcome you to Munchkin land.

Dorothy: Why do you thank me?

Munchkin Mayor: Let Glenda, the Good Witch, tell you.

Narrator 1: Look! Under the house! Dorothy can see a pair of feet with beautiful ruby slippers.

Narrator 2: Just then, the good witch appears.

(All sprinkle confetti over Glenda)

Glenda: Hello, Dorothy. The evil witch’s powerful slippers now are yours. Use

them for your own good.

Narrator 1: But then, another evil witch arrives.

All (Yell): Ohhhhhhhh!

Bad Witch: What have you done! You destroyed my sister! Now I want her shoes! Give them to me right now!

Glenda: Now the shoes belong to Dorothy!

Bad Witch: We’ll see, my pretty. I will leave now, but I’ll find you later. Ha, ha, ha!

Dorothy (Crying): I want to go home.

Glenda: Be tough, Dorothy. The Wizard of Oz will help you.

Munchkin Mayor: Follow the yellow brick road.

Good Witch: Go to Emerald City. Follow the yellow brick road, and your wishes will be all granted.

Narrator 1: On the road Dorothy meets a scarecrow

Scarecrow: I want a brain

Narrator 2: And a Tinman.

Tinman: I want a heart.

Narrator 1: They join her and walk on to Emerald City.

All (Sing): We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.

Narrator 2: But the bad witch kept her promise and sent evil to scare her.

Narrator 1: Look! Here comes a lion!

Lion (frightens, then comically sings): If I were King of the forest. Meow!

Narrator 1: Look! The lion has no teeth!

(Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow and Tinman laugh)

Cowardly Lion (crying): Don’t laugh at me. It scares me. I am afraid.

Dorothy: Then join us to see the Wizard of Oz. He will give you teeth and

make you proud.

Tinman: Me a heart.

Scarecrow: And me a brain.

All (sing): We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.

Narrator 2 (as bad witch sprinkles confetti over the travelers): But the bad witch follows them out of the forest and puts them to sleep with magic dust. She kidnaps Dorothy as they sleep.

Scarecrow (wakes first and wakes the others): Oh no, what can we do?

Narrator 2: The bad witch put Dorothy in her castle.

Bad Witch: Give me my ruby slippers, my little pretty, or you will be sorry!

Dorothy: What a horrible person you are! My friends will find you!

Narrator 1: Dorothy clicks her heels twice and her friends appear.

Evil Witch: I’ll take care of you, Scarecrow!

Narrator: Look! She lit his straw on fire!

(Dorothy takes a bucket of water and douses the Evil Witch with it)

Evil Witch: Oh, No. I’m melting! I’m melting! What a world!

Tinman: I’ll take her broom…

Lion: and show the Wizard of Oz what we did.

All (sing): We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Narrator: In Emerald City, they approach the Wizard.

Wizard of Oz (Happily receiving the broom): I see you killed the witch! Now I will give you what you need. Scarecrow, here’s your brain! Tinman, your heart! And Lion, your pride!

Dorothy: (Crying) I want to go home!

Wizard of Oz: Oh Dorothy, I thought you knew! Your shoes can take you home.

Dorothy: But how?

Wizard of Oz: Tap your heels together twice, and say: “There’s no place like home”

Dorothy (Tap twice): There’s no place like home… Goodbye, my friends.

All: Goodbye Dorothy!

Narrator 2: When Dorothy opens her eyes, she is back home.

Dorothy: Thanks to the ruby slippers, I have returned safely home. All my friends worked together to defeat the bad witch.

All: Working together: Teamwork!

Scarecrow: And Respect for your friends’ dreams

All: All work together for a common dream. And the dream that you dare dream really will come true.

www.readingsandridings.jimdo.com

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Menu of Teachers' Union Activities

Teachers' Union chapters need to be more actively democratic and responsive to its members needs. It is important to achieve this by creating sub-committees that would address areas of interest to members and get many members involved. Each sub- committee would be comprised of teacher and para-professional volunteers and facilitated by an elected committee member. Sub-committee membership is the vehicle for any interested teacher or para-professional who would like to become more active in social or political issues affecting the teachers' union chapter,improve the flow of information to  members, and make improvements to  work

environment.

MENU OF UNION ACTIVITIES Listed below is each objective and a proposal for sub-committees that would be created to realize that objective. Maybe you have an idea for another sub-committee? Remember, the form and direction of each sub-committee takes shape through you.

OBJECTIVE -ACTIVITY “To cooperate to the fullest extent with the labor movement

and to work for a progressive labor philosophy to awaken in

all members a labor consciousness and sense of solidarity

with labor.”

1. Union Solidarity Committee: Discuss labor issues with

possible petition drives. Update and advise colleagues on

contract issues. Contact and keep up with labor issues in

other schools in the area and worldwide..

****************************************************************

“To protect the schools against unsound economy and against efforts at domination by political, economic, religious, or military group.”

2. Sweat-free School Committee: Help your school join the

movement against sweatshops by identifying violators and

using union-made items at school.

3. Tolerance Committee: Discuss and recommend ways for

helping students get along better and helping teachers

understand cultural diversity. Work with clubs and the

student organization to promote cross-cultural sensitivity.

**************************************************************

“To promote education as a social agency for developing

the capacities of the young, for enlightened adults, and for

working toward a society motivated by the ideal of service and democratic participation.”

4. Teachers’ Resource Committee: Organize and expand

the teachers’ library resources such as videos, text,

classroom activity manuals, and member services brochures.

This includes the maintenance of office equipment, such as

the copy machine, computer, printer, and television. ****************************************************************

“To make members aware of their political responsibilities.”

5. Bulletin Committee: Update, decorate, and maintain the

union message boards. Monitor and maintain our list-serve.

Consider creating a chapter newsletter.

****************************************************************

“To advance the economic and professional interests of

members.”

6. Financial Advisory Committee: Act as an adviser to both

new and old colleagues with their financial questions on 401K, tax deferred annuity, DA, pension, and payroll.

7. In-Service Training Committee: Act as an advisor assisting

colleagues on licensing requirements, degree fulfillment, as

well as available classes for professional development, and

credits toward salary steps. Have information on sabbaticals. *****************************************************************

“To establish the active participation of education employees

in the formulation of educational policies.”

8. Education Committee: Discuss trends in education,

standardized testing, and effective teaching methodologies.

Create and develop a bank of useful teaching methodologies,

materials and plans. Assist colleagues *****************************************************************

“To work for democratic administration and supervision.”

9. Union-Administration Consultation Committee: Form an

agenda from sub-committee suggestions and prepare for

consultation meetings with the principal as required of elected Committee members. Report to the rank and file.

10. School General Assembly Committee: Attend, present our

petitions, and report on G.A. Required of Committee Delegates. ******************************************************************

“To protect members whenever necessary.”

11. Safety Committee: Advise colleagues on strategies for

classroom management and violence prevention. Instruct on

the procedures established for dealing with disruptive students.

12. New Teacher Support Group: Help new teachers maneuver in your school and give advise on clerical matters. how to survive an observation, and how to file grievance reports. Review mentoring candidates and help with selection.

13. Health Committee: Advise on insurance plans and make

available listings of doctors, dentists, and labs. Make available

 information of stress management. Work toward making your

school a safer school. Meet with cafeteria personnel to discuss and develop healthier lunch menus.

*****************************************************************

I believe each sub-committee can work toward creating a new

union environment in our schools, one of action, inclusion, and service. Each person can contribute to their area of expertise. In these days of union entrenchment, we must be more active to protect the gains you have made and make sure we’re fairly represented.

Education Emancipation Organization

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

The Wizard of Oz Readers Theater

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