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Giving tolerance a hand

A puppet show illustrates how ESOL students need patience and acceptance.

By MICHELE MILLER
Published November 30, 2005

ZEPHYRHILLS - Maria Carlotta was having a difficult time adjusting to life in a new country. The little girl who came to West Zephyrhills Elementary School last year from Mexico was trying to acclimate to new surroundings while learning a new language. Her mother spoke no English. Her dad did, but he worked a lot. Some kids made fun when she scrambled her words.

Maria isn't a real girl, but rather a puppet in a show performed at the school by student puppeteers, called Tu Me Gustas or I Like You.

Valerie Macleod, who wrote the script, is one of two guidance counselors at West Zephyrhills Elementary School. In the past three years she has written scripts that shine a little light on drug education, bullying and now, tolerance.

"We have a pretty big ESOL population at our school. I think this depicts the typical experiences of ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) students," Macleod said. "It presents to the audience a reality check about how hard it can be."

Florida schools typically see a lot of movement in students, whether it be those that are transplanted from another state, or, like Maria, from another country, said Macleod. "I think the puppet show helps to increase the awareness of all those issues and especially tolerance toward people coming to this school," she said.

The shows took about two months of preparation, said Macleod, who selects student puppeteers based on the way they sound and how well they are doing academically.

Claudia Sherry, 9, who portrayed Maria, drew on her experience of living in New Mexico, where she had many Spanish-speaking friends, to prepare for her part.

"I thought it was a great experience," said Claudia, adding that she saw her popularity at the school soar after fellow students attended the show. The message of the play was a good one, Claudia said: "It teaches people that people from other places need to be accepted because they really aren't much different from other people."

Sydney Owens, 9, who played Mrs. Ogilve, a teacher who tutors Maria after school to ease the transition for both of them, said "it was a little weird playing the oldest person in the play."

Still, she said she enjoys what she learns from students who come from other places. "We have one girl from India," she said. "We learn so much from her."

As for Rose Daily, 11, her character, Betty Sue, taunts Maria in the beginning but redeems herself in the end.

"She finds out how hard it is for Maria," Rose said, "and they become friends."

[Last modified November 30, 2005, 02:15:38]