"Prayer in School, Mrs. Johnson?"


"Prayer in School, Mrs. Johnson?" deals with the subject of how our society
views prayer. Have five or six actors on stage, sitting in rows of chairs
like they were in school. They should be rowdy and fooling around as their
substitute teacher, Mrs. Johnson, walks in and starts class.

TEACHER: Good morning class. I am your substitute teacher for today. Your
regular teacher, Mr. Walters, is in court today, up on charges of tax evasion,
fraud and 920 parking tickets that he said he misplaced by mistake. Let's
all send positive vibes his way throughout the day, shall we? (Student #1's
hand is raised) Yes, young man, may I help you?

STUDENT #1: Yea, Mrs. Johnson. Like...Mr. Walters used to let us have a
moment of silent prayer before we started. Is that...like...OK with you?

TEACHER: (Angry) Absolutely Not! If I allow you to have a moment of SILENT
prayer, the next thing you know, you'll be wanting to pray OUTLOUD! No no no
no no no! (One of the students is crying outloud) Umm, excuse me Miss...why
are you crying? What's wrong?

CRYING STUDENT: (With a big outburst) My dad lost his job and now he can't
afford to buy me the prom dress that I've had on layaway for 7 years!
(Another big outburst) Oh, Dear God, why did this have to happen to me?
Please God, help me! (sobs)

TEACHER: Stop that! Stop that! This is a public school..you are forbidden
to mention the name of (pauses)..the name of (pauses)..the name of G.O.D. in
a classroom setting! Besides, if there was a (pause) G.O.D., he would have
more things to do then to worry about YOUR silly little problems. Now, are
there any MORE life threatening distractions, or can we begin our school
work? (Notices student with hand sheepishly raised)

STUDENT #3: Mrs. Johnson, I don't understand why you're so upset about this
prayer thing. It's like you turn into the Substitute Teacher from Hell
whenever the word GOD or prayer is mentioned. It's my constitutional right
to pray if I want to and YOU can't stop me! (All the kids cheer and high
five. Mrs. Johnson gets mega mad and blows her top.)

TEACHER: Young man! You get down to the principal's office immediately!
NO ONE prays in MY classroom! (Meanwhile, Student #4 is looking out the
window, with hand raised)

STUDENT #4: Uh......Mrs. Johnson!

TEACHER: Quiet, I've had enough questions for today!

STUDENT #4: But...but...Mrs. Johnson!

TEACHER: I said.......QUIET!

STUDENT #4: Ok....but isn't that your brand new Camaro in the parking
lot....ON FIRE! (Mrs. Johnson runs to the window..sees car..panics & screams)

TEACHER: Oh dear God! Please Lord, don't let my NEW car get ruined! I
promise, I'll got to church on Sunday. Please God, help my car. (Starts
saying the Lord's Prayer outloud...panicking.) (All the kids start laughing
hystericaally as Mrs. Johnson runs out of the classroom praying.)



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