Autumn 2022
The group worked on:
- Exploring 19th century schooling for girls and expectations of girls and comparing these to 21st century.
- Researching and sharing research on 19th century women
- Analysing rhyme schemes and metre and free verse
- Reading and writing poems
Examples of work:
You tell me to speak gently by Akaela
You tell me to speak gently
Rules that don’t apply to me
To act prim and proper
I must decline your offer.
Your expectations hurt me,
They shake me to the core.
Society, magazine covers,
We don’t need this anymore.
You say boys will be boys, ignoring the oppression
Then you wonder why I’m acting with aggression.
You tell me to be humble,
When I speak I must mumble,
To treat others with respect, but with me you must neglect.
Speak gently, speak gently,
I hear you say
But you don’t know the impact
It can have on a female’s day.
You say speak gently by anon
You say speak gently,
but I go in my Bentley.
I quarrel day and night,
but where’s my knight?
Am I a damsel in distress?
I really can’t deal with this mess.
I get ignored,
this happened many times before.
Am I an object?
I hope this is a subject.
In the future,
I want to become a teacher.
Be quiet! By anon
Be quiet!
Be still!
Be polite!
Be kind!
Over and over again they say these things.
Don’t love
Don’t hate
Don’t shout and
Don’t run
Everything and nothing is what you wouldn’t have.
What they like
What they see
What they hate
What they want
All and all they have to have their way.
- Roleplaying scenes
- Learning the basics of script layout and good dialogue
- Experimenting with script writing
Example of work:
ELEANOR MARX AT SCHOOL BY Akaela
SCENE 1
The teacher storms outside the classroom, Student 3 following closely behind. She gives her a stern look.
TEACHER: Marx, your behaviour is atrocious, I ask you to recite one poem and you defy me! For this, you shall stay behind writing a paper on how young girls like you should behave.
STUDENT 3(Marx): Yes, Miss. This is said in a frustrated and disrespectful manner.
TEACHER: Tone!
STUDENT 3: Yes, Miss. Now said in a brighter and obedient way.
SCENE 2
Student 3 returns to the classroom (which still remains dead silent), counting down the hours until her demise.
12pm, she stares worriedly at the clock hung up high on the wall.
1pm, it’s getting closer.
2pm, time is running out.
3pm, time is up.
The students walk in a neat line outside. Sneakily, Student 3 tries to blend in with the others, sadly, her mischievous behaviour is recognised and is called to sit down.
TEACHER: Marx, you are to be seated this instant. Do not force me to extend your punishment.
Student 3 sighs accepting her fate as she takes a seat. The teacher shoves a piece of blank paper in her face and orders her to write at once. She sits at her desk, looking disapprovingly at her student.
Student 3, however, does not give in. In her eyes, this treatment is cruel and unjust. So, protesting against what is wrong in her opinion, she proceeds to write her paper, but a strange event occurs.
SCENE 3
An hour passes..
TEACHER: Marx! I am positive you have produced a sufficient amount of writing. You shall recite it, with no deception!
Student 3 springs up from her seat, a proud and devious smirk plastered on her face. She clears her throat.
STUDENT 3: Rule one, women should speak freely and not when spoken to, there is no such thing as saying too much or too little.
Rule two, make jokes and humorous remarks when one desires, do the things that amuse or please.
Three, make acquaintance with whoever you wish, there is absolutely no harm in befriending those who surround you.
Four, dominate the situation. Do not simply wait for a man, full of ignorance and vanity to make the first form of action.
Five-
Student 3 is suddenly interrupted.
TEACHER: Absolutely distasteful, you have failed to follow my instructions and especially the laws! You would be shunned if word got out. You shall serve punishment again tomorrow. I hope by then you will learn your lesson. I am severely appalled, Marx.
Student 3 shrugs and is sent out. She happily leaves, satisfied with the fact she got to state her views and opinions.
Feedback excerpts
I really enjoyed that we could speak about things we enjoyed and that we all had a nice experience. Everyone was friendly.
I found this session very freeing as I don’t often get to express myself after school. There s no need (in my opinion) to do more or less of anything here. I enjoyed getting to socialise with new people as well.
What I really enjoyed about this workshop is that I loved how I could speak so freely. I wish we would have more time.
Today was very humorous with, again, nothing to improve.
I really liked that we did a group activity with the Victorian class and I would like to do more of it.
I found the experience to be quite freeing as it let me express myself and share my ideas to new people. .. I was able to meet new faces who supported my ideas and shared some of their own. The workshop helped with my writing skills and informed me about the past. ..I had an extremely wonderful time being taught, role-playing, being around others and writing.