This play is about 4 teachers who are discussing the student’s rights

in the teacher and faculty lounge. This play talks about student
activism and rights, all while demonstrating censorship.

Characters:
Miss Anderson - English teacher
Mr. Robinson - AP English teacher
Mrs. Williams - Creative writing teacher
Mr. Taylor - History teacher

Student’s Rights
By: Preslei Pawelczyk

Scene 1: In the teachers lounge, Miss Anderson, Mr. Robinson, and Mrs.
Williams are sitting around the table eating their lunches and having a
conversation.

Mrs Williams - “Have either of you been noticing a change within the past
few years with the students? I feel like they’re starting to understand and express
their rights more, it’s… inspiring!”

Miss Anderson - “I totally agree, I think it’s awful that some students feel as
if they’re being mistreated, it’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s good that some of them
are taking a stand.”

Mr. Robinson - “Yep, I agree as well. Between students and teachers, a

student should never feel any less than either another student, or just in general.”

Miss Anderson - “Honestly in some aspects it’s double standards. I can’t

believe we’re still having these problems, absolutely absurd.” *Shaking her head*

Mr. Taylor enters the faculty room during their conversation

 Mrs. Williams - *Passionately* “We need to do some research on this,
maybe we could create a club or something to promote student well-being”

Mr. Robinson - “We definitely could look into something like this!”

Mr. Taylor enters the room on their conversation

Mr. Taylor - *Starts filling his coffee* “Afternoon guys, what are you all
talking about?”

Mr. Robinson - *Excitedly* “We’re talking about how vocal certain students
have been about their rights recently, it’s inspiring!”

Mr. Taylor - *Sharply* “Inspiring? I don’t know if that’s the right word to use,
there are so many students rebelling, causing disruption and being disrespectful
anymore!”

Miss Anderson - *A bit confused* “I don’t think you’re seeing this in the
right perspective. How about you explain your point a little more, we’ll explain
ours and we’ll try to see eye to eye.”

Mr. Taylor - “Alright I agree.” *Mr. Taylor sits down with the rest of the
teachers to start eating his lunch.*

Mr. Robinson - *Clears his throat* “Here I’ll start. Personally it disheartens
me how many students feel as if they are mistreated.”

Mrs. Williams - *Nods* “I second that. And it’s our responsibility to make
sure that every student is treated equally.”

Miss Anderson - “Exactly.”

Mr. Robinson - *Calmly* “What makes you feel like this is disrespectful,
Mr. Taylor?”
 Mr. Taylor - “Well personally I just feel like the older they get, obviously the
more knowledgeable they’re going to be about the rights they have as a student.
And this is not the bad or disrespectful part. What makes it disrespectful are the
students taking advantage of their rights and being careless with them. So I feel
like some of them are just looking for trouble, without knowing the consequences
that come along with them.”

Miss Anderson - *Quickly responds* “As the saying goes “children are our
future” they are our future leaders Mr. Taylor. They have a right to express
themselves, AND if they are feeling, rather, mistreated.”

Mr. Robinson - “Right, exactly, Mrs. Williams, you mentioned something

about starting a club? What else were you thinking with that?”

Mrs. Williams - “Well, what if we created a student activism club? It could

give students, who are interested, a chance to express their rights in a
constructive way. Just an idea.”

Mr. Taylor leans back, and starts considering;

“You know, that’s not the worst idea Mrs. Williams. If we create a club
where activism can be taken upon responsibly, and the students are given some
sort of structure along with it, this might be able to work.”

Miss Anderson - *Enthusiastic* “One hundred percent agreed, this is our chance
to support our students and their voices on their rights.”

Mr. Robinson - “And like you said Mr. Taylor, we would have to maintain it
and keep it from causing chaos, so we would just have to do our parts and lead
them in the right direction.”

Mr. Taylor - *Skeptical* “Except, what about the students who are
uninterested and still cause trouble? There’s still a lot of gray area with this.”

Everyone looks at each other, they know Mr. Taylor has a point.

Mrs. Williams - “Okay, I might have another idea. What if for now, we follow
through with the club, and within the next few years, we start to include a
discussion platform into our curriculum for students to express their feelings and
concerns, and we can create solutions as a community.”

Miss Anderson - *Enthused* “Right! That way every student would get their
chance to learn and express their rights with an academic purpose.”

Mr. Taylor, still leaning back in his chair. His eyebrows raise in an optimistic
manner.

Mr. Taylor - “You know what Mrs. Williams, you have some good ideas! I
think this could actually work out! Have you guys ever heard of the student
antiwar movement? This situation actually reminds me of it. ”

Miss Anderson - “Yes I’ve heard of it but I need my memory refreshed, it’s
been a while.” *She chuckles*

Mr. Taylor - “The student anti war movement began in 1964 when students
who were involved in the civil rights activism club at the University of California,
rebelled against their Universities attempt to prevent them from politically
organizing on campus.”

Mr. Robinson - “Basically, it was a student led movement to demand free

speech across college campuses. They also protested issues like social
injustices, poverty, and the unfair treatment of African American citizens. ”

Mr. Taylor - “A bunch of student organizations grew from the student

anti-war movement, NSFA which is the National Student Federation of America.
There were a few others like the Young Communist League and the New Student
Forum.”

Miss Anderson - “Gotcha! So the original movement must’ve been

successful!”

Mr. Taylor - “Yes and no, it began to collapse in the late 1960’s but in 1973
it forced the United States to sign a peace treaty, withdraw forces and end the
draft.”
 Miss Anderson - *In a joking manner* “Oh I see, so I’m hoping it wasn’t the
whole war part that reminded you of this!”

They all chuckle

Mr. Taylor - “No, no definitely not, it’s the student protesting! However
getting back to it, you have some great ideas Mrs. Williams! Let’s move forward
with them.”

Mr. Robinson - “We just have to take these ideas to the school board, so
that they can collaborate with us to help address these changes systematically.”

The teachers start to pack up their lunches, while finishing up their conversation.

Mrs. Williams - “It’s time for us to take our stand as teachers, for these
students, to make sure they’re all included in an environment where everyone
feels supported and treated fairly.”

Mr. Taylor - “I’m officially convinced. I agree, it’s about time for this
change.”

The bell rings for the students to head to their classes, the teachers have
their lunches packed and are about ready to head out the door.

Mr. Taylor - “This is about the most successful lunch I’ve ever had!”

Mr. Robinson, Miss Anderson and Mrs. Williams laugh in unison and nod their
heads in agreement. After saying bye to each other and wishing each other a
good rest of their days, they head back to their classes.