I Can Play Schools

I Can Play “Schools” by May C. Jenkins Summary Fill in the missing words:

attitude - confidence - deaf – despite – ease –fault – stubborn – unattainable

"I Can Play 'Schools'" is a story which centres on the relationship between a young widow and her little girl, Marian, who is not the sort of child she had wanted Marian was born  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! and dumb and in many many respects does not fulfil her mother's epectations #he mother lo$es her "after all", !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! an "e$er-recurring ache" at the sight of the little girl from net door, %reda, who is fair-s&inned, "golden $oiced" and full of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Marian, on the other hand, is shy, hesitant and does not feel at a t !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with other children #hough the mother does not want %reda to play with her daughter, %reda's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  persistence ma&es it ine$itable that in the end the two girls play "schools" together uite happily- Marian's mother realises that her daughter's inadeuacy and unhappiness are partly her own !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! because she has not been gi$ing her the support which only unreser$ed lo$e can pro$ide (ithin a brief period of only one hour the mother's !!!!!!!!!! towards her handicapped child changes %rom now on she will be able to lo$e her unconditionally, unconditionally, with no more "foolish longings" for an !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! ideal

Unit I Setting S!s"ense ) #he setting Which characters are involved?

 Is there any geometric figure figure which would illustrate would illustrate the relationship between them?

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Unit II Characterisation #. $he two girls What do we learn about Marian and Freda? Group or partner work.

#he two should be contrasted in appearance and character Match these words with the girls:  born leader - etro$ert - insecure - intro$erted – li&eable - not feel at ease with other people – outgoing - uiet – self-confident – senses, that something is wrong - sure of herself - unhappy Marian

%reda

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Match the %!otations and the im"lications ) I had dreamed of a different child * +are laughter  She had sensed my desire for a child without her handicap  she had been  bitterly hurt . /ou0d thin& it was her garden1 2 shrewdly 3 Stubborn persistence 4 5i$e this to Marian, I brought it for her 6 7on0t call me child, my name is %reda

serious strong-willed, self-confidence strong-willed, determined

sensiti$e to others self-confident sensiti$e ta&es the initiati$e Mirian must lac& self-confidence

#. $he signi&icance o& the game 'schools'  How is the change reflected in the childrens game?

(. $he &!nction o& the letter Why does the author have the mother writing a letter during the story? What is its function?

). $he e&&ect o& the story on the readers  Is there anything we can learn about human nature from the story?

 !o you know any handicapped people? What can you do to help them a" as an individual? b" as a group?

What sort of people would you advise to read this story?

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