The Message of      Count To Three

Correctly administering discipline is probably a parent’s most difficult task.  Parents must neither ignore it or enjoy it, and every “so-called expert” seems to teach a different method.  So, who is right?  What must you do?  You must do what you say.  What do our children hear, when we say we are going to Count To Three?

Sample scene setup and text of manuscript: 

         (The scene opens on a kindergarten classroom.  The Teacher is standing in front of her class.  Her Students are seated at their desks, but they are all talking and goofing around.)

(excerpted text)

Teacher:  Class!  Class, settle down.
(The Students stop talking and give their attention to the Teacher.)
Thank you.  Today, we are going to work on counting.

         (Once again the Children become excited.)

Class members:  Yeah!
Counting.
I want to count!
I want to.  I want to!

Teacher:  All right.  Quiet!
(She holds her finger to her lips until all the Children become quiet.)
Who wants to try first?

         (All the little hands shoot up into the air, straining to be seen.  The Teacher points to a girl named Ashley.)

Teacher:  Ashley, you go first.  Try and count to five.

Ashley:  (She stands up from her desk and begins to count out loud, slowly and deliberately.  She is counting on her fingers as she goes.)
One. . . . Two. . . .
(Suddenly, she puts her hands on her hips and imitates the voice of an aggravated mother.)
Young lady, I mean it!
(She resumes her slow, deliberate counting.)
 Four. . . . Five
(Ashley then sits back down in her seat.)