‘ Come away from that road will you?’ (Scene 4)
This proves that Mrs Kay is aware of her surroundings and does care a lot for the children. Despite that she acts motherly, she shows that she cares for them and their safety.
Unlike Mr Briggs she shouts softly, which is another indication that she cares, she gently shouts at him and he responds to her.
This also proves that despite that she is soft and kind hearted, she can still control the children’s behaviour.
In scene four, we have proof that she is on the children’s side.
‘…Now listen, everyone. If anybody’s got any chocolate or lemonade I want you to put your hands up.’
She knows that she should really check the children for food and respect the rules of the driver. But because she is on the children’s side, she feels that they need to have as much fun as possible.
She knows that this day is important to most of them therefore she gives them freedom.
The driver demonstrates the pessimistic behaviour that is imposed on these children.
‘ No its not all right. Y’ cant just take their word for it.’
This portrays the negativity imposed on these children. Therefore they are not trusted or given responsibilities. People tend to associate them with the reputation of their area.
Mrs Kay uses clever manipulation to lie to the driver.
‘ She manoeuvres it so that he has his back to the children’.
She knows that the children behave badly, so by him not seeing their behaviour, she could easily blackmail him or encourage him to be lenient on the children.
She is very clever in doing this.
Mrs Kay’s rules contradict Mr Briggs.
‘ That’s the only rule we have today: Think of yourselves, but think of others as well.
This again shows that she wants them to enjoy themselves. She is simple and at times, thinks as a child.
Mrs Kay’s good behaviour, open-mindness and tolerance is a good example to the children because she is impressionable.
‘ The thing is, about these kids, they’re like little souls lost an’ wondering the cruel heartless streets…’
This shows that she has easily fooled the driver, by allowing him to see through an open point of view.
If Mrs Kay can influence a grown adult, then she is certainly impressionable to these young children.
During scene six, we learn about Andrews’s social problems. His mother is a prostitute and his friends have seen her at work before.
This exposes Andrews’s social life, which he must find very embarrassing. Mrs Kay possibly acts motherly, to shelter him from the emotional torture and hurt that his mother puts him through.
She represents a good example of a mother to the children, so that they feel less deprived.
These children need to be set good examples because in this social environment they are impressionable.
‘She’s always with the blacks off the boats, your ma. And they’re loaded, them blacks are.’
Digga’s statement here shows that he is surrounded by ignorants. This suggests that the people around him are negative and ignorant, which has obviously influenced him.
Mrs Kay sets a good example by being open-minded and non-judgmental.
Carol has attached herself to Mrs Kay.
There conversation together shows that she feels comfortable asking Mrs Kay questions about life.
‘Y’know them places on the telly. Where they have gardens an’ trees outside an’ that’.
Carol has never been anywhere nice. She is eager to learn more about places where there is no vandalism, crime and poverty. To Carol to visit peaceful places would be a dream.
When Linda and Mr Briggs have a conversation about Linda’s uniform, Linda shows that she values Mrs Kay’s opinions more than Mr Briggs.
‘ Well. Mrs Kay never said nott’n about it.’
This also shows that Mrs Kay is soft because she is aware of the children’s social background.
She knows that they want more than a school uniform to wear 7 days a week, and doesn’t mind some of them wearing new clothes, because they have bigger problems at home.
Here Mr Briggs proves he is a bad teacher by threatening Linda.
‘ Count yourself lucky youre not a lad.’
He is prepared to hit a child because of their rude behaviour. He shows aggressive behaviour towards her. If she were a boy he would beat her.
In Andrew’s conversation with Mr Briggs, we see that he goes through an awful amount of deprivation at home.
‘ Sir, sir, me mum says nott’n about it but when me dad comes home, sir, sir, he belts me.'
This shows Andrew has to deal with an immense amount of denial and abuse at home. His mother ignores the fact that he has smoked since he was eight and his father beats him for not giving him cigarettes. He probably feels unloved at times, so Mrs Kay gives him the attention that he misses at home. His mother also has a reputation for being a prostitute.
Linda shows that she is confident.
‘Linda quickly links her arm through his and holds him there.’
The confidence that Linda shows suggests that Mrs Kay helps the children feel less insecure.
There is a continuous cycle of poverty in Liverpool.
‘ Ooer! Don’t be stupid, you. You wont get a husband like sir. You’ll end up marryin’ someone like your old feller.’ (Scene 7)
This shows that Linda has been brought up believing that people in Liverpool can never do exciting things or meet new people. They believe that the cycle of poverty will be endless. Therefore showing that they’ll never escape or break this cycle.
The children from the progress class will have to grow up with a bad reputation.
‘I only ever did it once, take a Liverpool coach load, they’d rob your eyes if you weren’t looking.’ (Scene 12)
This again shows that the children have a bad reputation because of the area in which they live in.
The attitude of the café workers indicates that they are prejudice. Mrs Kay gives these children so many chances because she knows that when they go out into the world on their own, no one will be there to support them.
The attitude that they are given limits the chances they have of better education, future, jobs, socialization and meeting new people.
She supports them because she knows that they will have fewer life chances.
In scene 13, John the café worker, thinks that all children are rich.
‘ Thousands of school kids with money t’burn’ (Scene 13)
This is another ignorant comment the writer uses in the play. John’s statement suggests that he is narrow-minded. His statement also contradicts that the children are actually poor, but he thinks all school children are rich, he doesn’t look around him and his surroundings.
During Scene 22 at the zoo, Briggs educates the children and allows them to argue important politic views and situations. In their conversation, the animals in the cage, are representative of the children.
‘ And don’t forget it was born in captivity so it wont know any other sort of life.’
This statement brings out the debate that refers directly to the children’s social environment.
The writer uses metaphors to make the audience think further into what is going on.
They’ve lived in a cage but want more things in life. Mr Briggs statement shows that he clueless. If people gave them a chance, they would be free from prejudice. They are forced into this lifestyle. They are trapped and Carol is the first to realise that she wants freedom.
Mrs Kay has been the only person to give the children a chance. She shows trust in them, which is what they need most.
The children’s environment has had a negative effect in their lives. If they had been given opportunities they wouldn’t behave badly.
Mr Briggs is so narrow-minded that he believes that because the children were born into captivity, they know of nothing else.
In scene thirty-three, when Carol goes missing Mr Briggs behaviour is childish and unprofessional.
‘Look! I thought I’d made it quite plain that I was having nothing more to do with your outing.’
This statement shows that he is very selfish. He is more concerned with going back to school to complain about Mrs Kay and the two other teachers rather than find Carol. He behaves immaturely by holding grudges and not paying attention to the fact that Carol is lost.
On the other hand Mr Briggs professional attitude encourages the children to behave maturely, whilst Mrs Kay’s behaviour can be irresponsible.
‘ Sir’s in love, sir’s in love!’ (Scene 5)
This comment made by Reilly shows that he is immature and not fully developed for a 15 year old. His attitude is of a little Childs. This could indicate that maybe if Mr Briggs was his teacher, he’d act mature.
When the children were leaving the city, on the coach a little kid threatens to tell Mrs Kay that Reilly and Digga are smoking.
Little Kid: ‘ Agh ‘ey. You’ve got ciggies. I’m gonna ell mis.’ (Scene 6)
Digga: ‘ Go’n tell her. She wont do nott’n anyway.’
This comment shows that the children have little respect for Mrs Kay now that they have left her class.
They react afraid when they are being threatened that Mr Briggs will find out. This shows that they take Mrs Kay for granted by not respecting her. They behave as if she’s there sister or friend, because they know that she is soft hearted.
This could also indicate that Mr Briggs teaching methods are better.
When Reilly is caught on the coach smoking, Mr Briggs stays in control of the situation.
Briggs: ‘All right, all right. We don’t want any argument.
There’ll be no more smoking if I stay up here, will there?’
When Mr Briggs finds out about Andrews smoking, he doesn’t shout or go mad. He remains calm and takes care. He does his job very well.
In the conversation between Mrs Kay and Carol, Mrs Kay does little to encourage her.
‘Well you could try, couldn’t you, love. Eh?’
Therefore showing that she is not very supportive of the children and has little belief in them. Carol has become attached to her and needs support and encouragement to be able to work hard and leave Liverpool, but Mrs Kay doesn’t give her this.
When Mr Briggs sits next to Digga on the coach, he tries to educate him.
‘ You don’t get buildings like that anymore. Just look at the work that must have gone into that.’ (Scene 6)
Here, Mr Briggs is keen to teach Digga about the area. He keeps him interested. This is a skill that is vital to being a good teacher. Mrs Kay probably wouldn’t have been able to do this.
When Mrs Kay has taken off her shoes in the coach, she sets a bad example by being unprofessional.
‘ They look more like mother and daughter than teacher and pupil.’
Whilst Mr Briggs is running around taking care of the children, Mrs Kay sits down and relaxes with one pupil. This shows that she is irresponsible and might not be able to control the class in an emergency. Her behaviour is inappropriate because she has a favourite pupil and does not allow Carol to be independent.
Mrs Kay replaces Carol’s mother’s role and pays little attention to the other children.
At Scene 16, Mr Briggs is more sensible by saying that somebody should keep an eye on the children.
‘To be quite honest, Mrs Kay I think we should all be inside, looking after them.’ (Scene 16)
He is absolutely right because if Mrs Kay had listened to his advice, the children would have not stole from the café. Mrs Kay in this scene is wrong by being way too supportive of the children. She knows that they didn’t even have enough money to go on the trip, let alone by sweets. By allowing them to steal she is not preparing them for good socialization in the future.
During scene 21, Mrs Kay doesn’t correct Reilly for his rude comment.
‘ And yourself, Brian, the Orang Utang.’
Instead of correcting Reilly for being impolite, she jokes with him and joins in the conversation. This is encouraging the children to miss-behave.
The children of the Progress class need a teacher who will support them because there will be people like the zookeeper in scene 29, putting them down.
When the zookeeper shouts at everybody on the coach, Mr Briggs is considerate and supportive of the children.
‘ Would you mind controlling your language and telling me what’s going on.’
Here Mr Briggs is considerate of the children at the appropriate time. He is good at taking control during bad situations.
He also uses please and polite language to show he is professional and polite.
Despite this terrible incident, Mrs Kay says nothing and looks at Mr Briggs as if he is in the wrong. She is ineffectual.
During scene 31 at Conwy Castle, Mr Briggs tries his best to educate the children.
‘ What’s perpendicular mean?’
He challenges them with a difficult question in which one of the students’ answers.
Whilst he is educating the children, Mrs Kay sits on a bench overlooking the estuary. This shows the differences in their attitudes and teaching methods.
In conclusion, I feel that Mrs Kay is best suited for the needs of the Progress class.
In scene five, Briggs proves to be a bad teacher by insulting the children’s capabilities.
‘You’ve got some real bright sparks here, Mrs Kay. O right bunch.’
This quote indicates that Briggs has very little respect for the children. He judges all of them and puts them down. Mrs Kay is a better teacher because she responds politely and shows that she has respect for the children.
Mr Briggs not only shows that he lacks respect for these children but that he dislikes children in general.
‘ (Looking at the kids.) There are a few of ‘em I could sling off right now.’
Mr Briggs has a terrible attitude problem, which is not appropriate for any teacher to have. His behaviour here, suggests that he doesn’t understand children. The whole purpose of teaching is to educate children in a positive and friendly environment, but he educates them in a negative environment, showing that he has more authority. He compares the children to rubbish.
Mr Briggs knows that these children have not been on a school visit before but still gives them no freedom.
‘We don’t want you to think that we don’t want you…
you wont know how to enjoy yourselves.’
His statement here is appalling because he thinks that he has the right to teach the children how to enjoy themselves. He is far too strict and gives the children no freedom.
These children get little freedom at home, so they deserve to have some freedom at school. Mr Briggs is narrow minded and only thinks of himself.
When Mr Brigs shouts at the little kid, he shows that he does not children well at all.
Kid:’ Getting’ sweets, sir’.
Briggs: Sweets?
Mrs Kay: Thank you Maurice.
This conversation shows that Mr Briggs has not taken time to know what children want, because he doesn’t expect him to want sweets.
This also shows that he has never taken time to get to know children and find out about what they like or need. His behaviour here contradicts Mrs Kay’s attitude. She just lets them eat what they want and allows them to have fun.
When Mr Briggs meets the driver, he shows that he is pompous.
‘ (Quietly) We’ve got a right head case of a driver.’
This comment shows that he thinks badly of everyone. This is therefore setting a bad example to the children. When the children are surrounded around negatively all the time, it is no surprise that they behave badly. Mrs Kay is the only person to be optimistic.
Mrs Kay sets good examples to all of the children, but it has the most positive effect on Carol.
‘Miss, y’ know when I grow up, miss….
live in one of them nice places?’
The conversation between Mrs Kay and Carol shows that, because Mrs Kay is positive, Carol tries to believe that she can move out of Liverpool if she learns to read and write. Carol puts aside the fact that she lives in a chaotic area and sets herself the goal of achieving freedom.
Mr Briggs has a problem communicating with people.
‘ He tries to respond but doesn’t quite make it.’
Mr Briggs tries to smile back at Mrs Kay but doesn’t. He finds it hard to talk to her when she is a member of staff.
At scene 30, Mr Briggs proves that he is judgemental.
BRIGGS: ‘ The minute we start to treat you as real people, what happens?’ (Scene 30)
‘ I have. I’ve learned that trust is something you people don’t understand.’
Here we see that he judges all of the children. He talks to them as if they are not considered real human beings and should be referred to as animals. He is also hypocritical because he tells the keeper off for being rude, but later on he goes and does the same thing again to upset the children.
In this scene he doesn’t understand the children because he does not realise that they have heard this all before and they have become resistant to what others say to them.
In scene 31, Mrs Kay proves to be a better teacher, by encouraging the children to express their feelings.
‘Why not?’ (Scene 31)
Here, Mrs Kay sees that the children are discussing an issue that she feels strongly about. She encourages them to express their opinions and views.
In this scene the children have also chosen to be with her.
Further on in scene 31, Mr Briggs again shows that he lacks respect for the children.
‘ They’re just like town dogs let off the lead in the country.’
He makes a comparison between dogs and these children. This shows that he believes that they are worthless and incapable of achieving anything.
Mrs Kay on the other hand, tries to make him realise that these children are being deprived and all that she can do is allow them to have fond memories of high school.
The writer has written this play to show as if Mr Briggs and the progress class are oppositions. The writer feels strongly for the children and their social environment so he uses Mrs Kay’s argument to express his opinions.
Mrs Kay knows that it is too late for these children to get a good education.
‘ a day out to Wales….
should have had long ago.’
Her views on the children are realistic because she knows that all she is capable of doing is helping the children get over their social problems by allowing them to have fun. She has tried her best. She believes that they have been let down by all the adults around them, she doesn’t want to let them down as well.
After she tells the children that they are going to the beach, Mr Briggs is disappointed.
Briggs: ‘The Beach!!’
Mrs Kay: ‘We can’t come all the way to the seaside and not go to the beach!’
She is disappointed at Mr Briggs for not understanding what she has told him. It has had no effect on his opinions so she stands up to him because she strongly believes the children deserve fun.
Mrs Kay has an excellent relationship with the children.
‘The kids at the waters edge chant…
Spluttering and laughing.’
This shows that she has exceptional association with the children. She makes them laugh and have fun whilst she enjoys herself at the same time. This is important because she can communicate with them better and make learning fun for them.
Mrs Kay does not believe in traditional teaching methods of discipline and high standards, she is lost to understand the unfairness of a society, which puts these children at the back of the queue. She wants the children to least have a good day out, even if they are not going to resolve the struggle of the unequal chance and social injustice.
However Mr Briggs is completely the opposite to Mrs Kay, he is strict and intolerant to bad behaviour, he believes in the “old school” way of teaching with systematic views of discipline, standards and uniform, whatever the ability or background of the pupils in the progress class.
For many of the children she has perhaps taken on a motherly role, she hold there hands, put her arm round them and cuddles them, which they may not get at home, she possibly feels they need more love and care then education. She also stands by what she believes in and defends her pupils against difficult attitudes based on discrimination.
