Readers Theater gets students excited about reading and motivated to write. Use the Reader's Theater Script to inspire students to read great literature like, “The Hunger Games, Divergence, The Giver, and 1984”! Students have little classroom access to narrative literature in the middle and high-schools due to the CCSS ELA expository text mandates. Readers theater provides a great opportunity to get kids thinking about deep meaningful issues, Use the free Readers Theater scripts and use your students names _______ to make the readings more personal. The Disappeared is a futuristic dystopian tale of resilience and children fighting back. Similar Themes: The Hunger Games, Divergence, The Giver, and 1984.
The Disappeared Children
- Luxurious looking and spacious hallways; colossal columns with magnificent carvings and giant French windows glistening in brilliant sunshine of perfect proportions. Pavered courtyards bordered by beautifully kept flower beds and inviting green fields which serve the purpose of play and recreational grounds. This is what greets you at Pearsons Gates Academy. This is the new ultra-modern school which has been built to board students who have been failing the National Standards Tests. The Disappeared have been separated from their families, friends, hopes, dreams, and futures.
- Children, ages five to eighteen were walking diligently along the hallways. They were heading to their respective classrooms. These classrooms were equipped with the most modern of furnishings and futuristic electronic devices and equipment. This is where the apex of twenty first century teaching and learning takes place daily. The resplendent classrooms which are airy and illuminated by large gushes of natural light from the numerous and huge windows, are perfect for learning.
- NEWS BREAK: Education police said they received another tip from school officials that all the children in a single home failed their Reading and Math test. PGA officials obtained an emergency custody order to remove the students and enroll them in the Parsons Gates Academy. When authorities arrived at the Plutarch's home, they said a 4-year-old girl answered the door. Police said the mother was asleep on the couch and when awakened by officers, she became augmentative and uncooperative. Police said they removed all six children from the Phoenix home Monday after their mother and father failed to show up for a mandatory Parental Accountability meeting.
- The students here are progressing relatively well in Numeracy and Literacy! Things could not have been better as they have superlative teachers who have been PGA trained. The teachers are courteous, knowledgeable and know just how to execute their craft. They get the students actively involved in learning through acting, singing and dancing. The technological advancement in the world of education is at its summit here at Pearsons Gates Academy. Every spacious classroom had its own 3D holographic learning lab.
- It sounds very impressive and it is; well, at least that’s what all the overly anxious parents thought until they realized that this was all a pipe dream. A dream that would never be realized. Instead of being taken to these splendid Academies, which, of course, doesn’t exist, the failing children were hauled off to engage in slave labor in dehumanizing and grossly-overcrowded gargantuan factories. Most of the students were from poor minority families causing a number of families to believe their was a plot to exploit the disappeared children.
- “Are we ever going to go back home?” asked Danna, the youngest of all the children. Jesus who was the eldest and acknowledged as being most clever, quickly responded, “we will outwit and more important outnumber the guards tonight at 10, we'll escape and find our way back to our families and homes.” The thousands of former students have been surviving the cruel adversities, working 18 hour days, with very little healthy food and sweat shop conditions that would desolate any without hope. The children demonstrated great virtue all while hope was stripped away when they failed their test.
- Parents worried endlessly about the their lost children as they queried PGA officials about their children.
- The well-mannered quiet children all sat stone-faced at the huge, food bare tables in the mess-hall and waited for the guards to waltz in and march them to the den-of-culinary-atrocities to deposit their meal trays. This was a ritual that occurred daily at 10 pm.
- The ‘lookouts’ who sat at the four corners of the room waited for the moment when all 80 guards collected their meals and sat to eat unaware of the children plot. The ‘lookouts’ stood up and the fierce animalistic instinct of thousands of children kicked in. They pounced on the guards who were far outnumbered, relieving them of their rubber batons, hitting them mercilessly in the process of subduing them, really beating them silly for good measure.
- Before long, all the battered guards were on the slimy porridge covered floor in a dazed state. Little did they know that the children would be able to overpower them an in such a completely unified and solid way. The rotten PGA minions lay on the floor writhing in excruciating pain occasioned by blows from their own batons.
- All the children, led by Jesus and Danna dashed through the wide double doors, ran along the corridors and into the fields. Twenty-four hours later they all arrived at a farm near the freight depot. They waited for a freight train headed north to the US border and placed the smallest children on the train with a compassionate chaperone. The rest headed north enduring the arduous journey on foot to the US border. Being the led by the smart-charismatic Jesus, he made it relatively easy for them to navigate their way back to their small town across the border. Their anxious and worried parents were overjoyed to see them and they were all in school the next day.
- In a supernatural-ingenuous flair, the students led by Jesus and Danna outwitted the guards and escaped the subjugation. The children were diligent-strategic and meticulous in planning their every move and did not hesitate to execute their best-laid plan with great deliberation. The students used what little technology they had to document what really happened to them. The Disappeared shared the great atrocities and injustice of separating families in the name of School Reform and Accountability. The world learned first hand what the PGA was really doing.
- But what really led to the inception of this modern Greek tragedy, that all participants could or should have done without? Close examination revealed that thinking, fun, creativity, innovation and curiosity was taken out of learning because of the commercialization of education and the overbearing testing of the children mandated by politicians. There was no longer any joy, curiosity or excitement involved in teaching and learning. The enormous stresses associated with doing National Standards Tests were imperious and almost terror-like.
- However, following this ghastly episode of the diapered children, the teachers and administrators have now revolutionized teaching and learning. Teachers are now in control of all educational decisions, they are paid like doctors, students are enjoying over an hour of recess everyday, there are more fun and games involved in lessons and there’s no mandatory testing.
- To everyone’s surprise and delight, the passing rates have now been catapulted upwards from 20 percent in the poorest schools to 90 percent.
- As for the PGA officials and factory guards who wielded power over the children as innocent victims; they were all imprisoned and subjected to mandatory rehabilitation courses. Never again would this ill-fated occurrence be allowed to take hold of education and innocent children.
- There trods our obligatory ending, which we'll see in our future, All the children learn happily ever after. The End?
Narrator 1
When Jesus woke up this morning, he
knew this would be a day full of uncertainty, fear and risk. He also
knew that without these things, he would never fulfil his destiny as
a brave leader amongst his peers. As he sat in the lunchroom after
his arduous day of labor in the fields, aching and sleepy, he dreaded
the imminent moment approaching.
Jody
Are we ever going back to school?
NARRATOR 2
Jody
was the youngest of the group, with energy to spare even after a 14
hour day of backbreaking work. Having been separated from the rest of
her family when she was abducted from her Phoenix school for failing
her 3rd
grade standardized reading test, she naturally fell in with people
from her own school.
NaRRATOR 1
When Jody first arrived at the
Pearsons Gates Academy she knew no one. Her siblings had been
separated from her for several months and she knew not what had
become of them. Jesus and Danna took her under their wing and looked
out for her. This was her surrogate family.
Jesus
The only way we'll ever get back to
school and our parents is if we take our fate into our own hands.
Jody
I want to see my brothers and sisters
again too. I miss them.
JESUS
We'll get to see everyone, we just
have to be brave.
JODY
How do we do brave, Jesus?
JesUS
When things get scary and we don't
know what will happen next, we stay calm and stick to the plan. We
trust our faith in ourselves, no matter what everyone else tells us
what we're supposed to do or who we're supposed to be.
JODY
How do we do that?
NaRRATOR 1
Jody was always full of questions, and
she asked them all when they entered her skull. She was Autistic and
had a real knack for learning and exploring the strange or bizarre.
It was her greatest asset and her Achilles heel. She was overtly
intelligent because of all the nontraditional knowledge she sought to
obtain, but also ostracized by many because she was so outspoken on
improving everyone else, and herself, she was perfect.
Narrator 2
Jody had passion, creativity and love
for her special interests. She dreamt of becoming the greatest mind
in her field of robotics. This was opposed by many as they felt she
should only be learning the common core as everyone else. It resulted
in her being bullied by her peers and even teachers in her school.
She believed trying to please the teachers, administrators, or
politicians who were passing ill thought laws was a poor use of her
time.
Danna
At 10pm tonight, our lookouts in all
four corners of the cafeteria will make their final surveillance of
the guards and if it's all clear, we will overpower them and march
out the front doors
Danna (Cont’d)
of the Pearsons Gates Academy as free
as we were the day we were born!
NARRATOR 1
Danna wasn't Jesus' girlfriend by any
means, but what many called a kindred spirit. She was a natural born
leader, gifted with vigor and passion on completing goals and moving
the world forward. She learned not by asking questions like Jody, but
by doing.
Narrator 2
Her hands on experience made indelible
imprints on her thought processes. Something her teachers knew when
they taught her in classes, helping her to grasp mathematical
concepts and applications. The very same creative teaching techniques
that were lost when laws mandated that all students would learn one
way. These new teaching methods were determined only by lawmakers and
the educational businesses that created the standardized tests.
Jody
I can't wait to learn new things
again. We haven't learned anything new since the second day we were
here. My mom once told me about this place, they said on the news
that the Pearsons Gates Academy was a high technology learning
retreat. The only thing I learned was how to dig and teach new kids
how to dig. The same thing gets boring every time.
DaNNA
I agree with you Jody. Some of the
things we learned in school was hard but something new everyday made
life an adventure. When they first started the standardized testing I
learned pretty much the same things in every grade.
NaRRATOR
While the two girls bantered back and
forth about ideas and hope, Jesus sat stirring his grey mashed
potatoes as his heavy eyes struggled to stay laser focused on the
clock. Every moment the second hand ticked closer to 10pm made it
more and more difficult for him to stay awake and brave. He was tired
now, but the moment the revolution began, his energy would need to be
on point.
Narrator 2
Another thing to fear was if he
failed, the guards would no doubt raise security protocols to prevent
another incident. It was Jesus' gift to know that preparation was
always a key to success. Studying and focus was key to accomplishing
goals. Jesus was always able to do very good on tests from his
teachers because they were well in tune with the content they were
teaching, making after school study sessions and homework geared
towards educating the students to understanding problem solving,
instead of temporarily memorizing patterns.
DANNA
Jesus, is it time?
JeSUS
Almost.
JodY
What do I do?
Jesus
If I give you the go ahead you're
going to help get everyone out of the cafe. I'll need you to hold
open the doors so everyone will run and then you lead them to the
front of the school.
JODY
What if someone tries to stop us?
JESUS
You just keep running, ok? You leave
the fighting to the bigger kids.
DANNA
I'll be right there with you, Jody,
ok?
JodY
Ok.
NaRRATOR
Jesus took a breath as the second hand
was coming up on 10pm. The moment was finally at hand.
Jesus
Everyone ready?
DANNA
Ready.
JodY
Ready.
NarRATOR 1
Jesus rose from his seat and looked to
corner one. His first lookout nodded yes. Corner two. Yes. As the
moment grew, Jody uncrossed her legs under the table and Danna dabbed
the remaining food from the corners of her mouths before setting her
food to rest. Jesus moved to corner three and got a hesitant nod.
Jesus looked deeper into the hesitancy to understand it, realizing
one of the guards was watching and just now caught on. RIOT! He
screamed as several other guards looked up from their meals, mouths
full of mashed potatoes.
JesUS
Go!
DANNA
Let's go, Jody, come on!
NARRATOR 2
Jesus and the rest of the big kids
quickly mobbed the unexpecting guards. Jody and Danna lead droves of
other children through the doors, down the grimy looking and cramped
corridors with colossal humiliating columns; drab plain walls and
small holes for windows that would keep electric costs down. Finally
to the front gates they arrived, where the stormy weather outside
washed away the dirt and ash from their bodies.
DANNA
Has anyone seen Jesus?
JeSUS
I'm here!
Jody
Now what do we do?
JESUS
We have to find the train line. I'm
sure it's off in that direction there. Let's go!
NaRRATOR
As Jesus led the mass of freed
students through the fields and into the nearby woods, all of them
would take a moment of their time to glance back and keep sure of the
burning structure that once housed them was crumbling to it's demise.
DanNA
How far do you suppose the train line
is?
Jesus
Not far. A days walk or so. We must
keep moving. I know they will come for us. If we don't succeed now,
we may never.
NaRRATOR
Just then a voice spoke up from the
mass behind Jesus. It was Gordy, a longtime troublemaker at school
and then again at the factory.
Gordy
Why should you be the leader? I
already don't think this is the right idea. We should just go back
and do what they say. It's safer that way.
JesUS
I'm not going to stop you, because if
there's one thing I've learned from all of this is that there isn't
just one way to do things, one goal to be met. Each person has to get
to their destination by their own means. Mine is to see my family
again and return to school and learn new and exciting things. If I
have to face the storm; wild animals, toxic plants and harsh terrain
to get there, I'm going to. If you want to keep working the fields
because it's what's safe, then go on.
NarRATOR 1
Jesus and the group waited, the mass
all looking at Gordy to see what he'd do. After a moment of
contemplation, Gordy lowered his eyes to the ground in shame and
submitted his loss of the argument.
JESUS
Alright then. Let's go everyone!
JodY
I love that we're outside in the rain.
They never let us go outside in the rain! It's actually kind of fun!
NarraTOR 2
Jody was correct, it was a fun
endeavour to be doing something different. Good fortune smiled upon
the students as they ventured for over a day's time, making their
arrival at the train depot early the next morning. It was a long,
hard earned respite for them as they snuck on to empty car trains to
gain passage back over the boarder and return home. Many of them
slept the whole ride, others were too excited at the prospects that
awaited them.
Narrator 1
Nothing compared to the thoughts of
their own beds; dogs and cats that would comfort them in wet sloppy
kisses and the smell of a home made dinner cooked with love. As they
finally arrived back in Phoenix, the exhaustion took a back seat in
their minds. Energy surged from every child's legs as they raced
around corners and bends in their neighborhood roads to get the
chance to wake their parents
JODY
Mom!? Dad!? We're home!
Jody's mom
Jody!? Oh my goodness, sweetheart we
thought we'd never see you again!
NarraTOR 2
Jody's parents near fell flat faced to
the ground, tangled up in the morning blankets as they rushed to
embrace their little girl.
GorDY
Dad?
NaRRATOR 1
Gordy's dad was dressed in a business
suit; carrying a briefcase and adjusting a small United States
Flagpin when he noticed his son coming up the suburban street.
GORDY
Dad I'm home!
NARRATOR 2
Gordy's father said nothing, as he
pointed towards the house and continued into his limo with the police
escort waiting to take him back to the state senate.
DanNA
Oh, Max! I missed you beyond compare!
NARRATOR 1
Danna hugged her red Doberman dog as
she fell onto the couch in her living room. Her parents almost
trampled one another to reach her first as they both sandwiched her
into the middle of a hug that could only be explained as a vice grip.
Jesus
Hello? Is anyone home?
NaRRATOR 2
Jesus was slow and unsure of his house
as it sat quietly. A creak arose from the back of the kitchen. His
father emerged from the basement, overwhelmed with joy.
JESUS
Dad! Where's mom?
Jesus' dad
She's not here Buddy. Your mother
found out about all the terrible things that they were doing to you
and the others at the factory. She set out two weeks ago to try and
find it and gather evidence to shut it down.
JESUS
We burned it down. But I stole one of
the guard's phones when he wasn't looking and took all of these
pictures.
NaRRATOR 1
As Jesus and his father thumbed
through the pictures on the phone, the front door opened and Jesus'
mother came exclaiming through the room until she was reunited with
her son. She was overjoyed that her son was finally home.
Narrator 2
In the days that followed, Jesus and
his parents brought the evidence to the U.S. District Attorney. She
brought charges against all of the politicians and corrupt business
owners that tried to limit and control the education of students to
their own advantage.
NarRATOR 1
The laws of standardized testing where
repealed and students started growing as teachers were allowed to
embrace different teaching methods for different students. Test
scores rose and students grew into successful adults who were
passionate about their work and capable of problem solving with their
own minds, pushing knowledge of the human race even further than it
already had reached.
THE END.
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