Characters:
Miss Masondo: teacher
Jabu: schoolboy
Thabo: schoolboy
Lebo: schoolgirl
Mpho: schoolgirl
Mrs Mathole: Principal
Mr Sithole: Jabu’s dad
Mr Selowa: Night watchman
***
(At Mr Sithole’s house. Today Jabu is late, he greets is father in a hurry.)
Jabu: Hi Dad, I’m going to school.
Mr Sithole: Wait boy, your pocket money.
Jabu: Thanks! See you later.
(He leaves the house in a hurry.
***
(At the school gate Jabu meets Mr Selowa.)
Mr Selowa: Helo Jabu, why’re you late today?
Jabu: Hi Sir, I overslept.
Mr Selowa: Run boy! Miss Masondo is in class already.
Jabu: Oh no!
***
(In class with Grade 6. Jabu’s in trouble, he waits outside.)
Miss Masondo: Good morning class.
Children: Good morning Ma’am.
Miss Masondo: I’ll be reading the register. Lebo Makoro?
Lebo: Present.
Miss Masondo: Mpho Mametsa?
Mpho: Present.
Miss Masondo: Thabo Molomo?
Thabo: Present.
Miss Masondo: Jabu Sithole?
(The class goes mute. She calls Jabu’s name again.)
Miss Masondo: Jabu Sithole! Do any of you know where Jabu is?
Children: No, Ma’am.
Jabu: (He enters the class room) Sorry, Ma’am.
Miss Masondo: Jabu why are you late?
Jabu: I…I…I…was…
Miss Masondo: Come her you stupid boy!
Jabu: Mam I can explain. (He says hurriedly)
Miss Masondo: Explain what? Did you do your work?
Jabu: Yes Mam, but I forgot my book at home.
Miss Masondo: (She slaps him across his face) Why did you even come to school?
Jabu: I’m sorry, Ma’am.
Miss Masondo: Go sit down!
(Lebo goes to Miss Masondo’s table.)
Lebo: May I please be excused?
Miss Masondo: No, stay until break!
Lebo: But Ma’am…
Miss Masondo: Lebo, I said sit down.
Lebo: Ma’am, please.
Miss Masondo: Don’t you have ears? (She hits Lebo with a stick, then Lebo seats down.)
Mpho: Ma’am, why do you like to beat us?
Miss Masondo: Young girl, don’t you talk to me that way!
Thabo: Yes! You abuse us. I’ll report you to the principal.
Miss Masondo: If you dare to do that, you’ll be sorry!
Lebo: What are you going to do, Ma’am? Beat us up?
Miss Masondo: Children, don’t test me!
(The principal enters the class.)
Mrs Mathole: Good day everyone, what’s going on?
Miss Masondo: I’m busy teaching! Can’t you see?
Principal: Watch your tone!
Lebo: Principal, Miss Masondo likes to beat us for no reason.
Mrs Mathole: She what? I’ve been receiving complaints about you lately, Miss Masondo. I’ve begun writing a report to the Department of Education about that.
Miss Masondo: Go and do that. I’ll deny everything!
Children: Deny it, but we will be witnesses!
Mrs Mathole: You don’t deserve this job!
Miss Masondo: I’m sorry Mrs Mathole, I’ve been…
Mrs Matholel: No this time, you have gone too far!
The End
***
Tell us: Do you know of teachers like Ms Masondo? Do they deserve to be teachers?