Lesson flow
Opening Hook
Start with a brief discussion on what students believe makes a good leader. Ask them to share examples of leaders they admire and what qualities they possess.
Story Exploration
Read the story "The Reform School Board" aloud as a class. Encourage students to take notes on key events and character actions that showcase the moral of the story.
Analysis Exercises
Divide students into small groups to discuss the motivations and actions of both the original School Board and the new female Board. Each group will list possible consequences of their decisions and share with the class.
Application/Reflection
Bring the class back together and ask students to reflect on how the story relates to real-world situations they may have encountered or learned about. Encourage them to think about how governance works in their own schools or communities.
Assessment Strategy
Use a quick exit ticket where students write down one key lesson they learned from the story and one question they still have.
STORY OVERVIEW
- Title and moral/theme: The Reform School Board; The importance of thoughtful governance and accountability.
- Plot Summary: In the town of Doosnoswair, the School Board is suspected of corruption due to the appointment of female teachers. To address this, the community elects an all-female Board, hoping for reform. However, instead of improving the situation, the new Board eliminates all female teachers, showcasing the unintended consequences of radical solutions.
- Key Characters and Their Significance:
- The School Board Members: Represent the existing system and its flaws.
- The Community: Reflects societal perceptions and the desire for change.
- The New Female Board: Embodies the consequences of extreme measures taken without careful consideration.
LESSON FUNDAMENTALS
- Learning Objectives:
- Students will analyze the motivations behind the community's decision to elect an all-female Board.
- Students will evaluate the consequences of radical solutions in governance.
- Students will connect the story's themes to real-life scenarios of accountability and decision-making.
- Students will discuss the importance of gender representation and its implications in leadership roles.
- Discussion Questions:
- What were the initial assumptions the community had about appointing an all-female Board?
- How did the new Board's actions contradict the community's intentions?
- What lessons can be drawn from this story about the need for thoughtful governance?
- Required Materials:
- Copies of the story "The Reform School Board"
- Whiteboard and markers
- Paper and pens for student notes