Garry Special Ed Students Will Stage ‘Macbeth’

Macbeth hovered over the fallen soldier, a final hubris before his death. “You were not born of woman. I fear you not!” he bellowed, rushing for a final battle with Macduff.

In this case, the line was delivered with the tone of a school yard ‘dis.’ Macbeth is Leo Jenkins, a 14 year-old wearing a black “Fight the Power” T-shirt, a necklace made out of a dog leash and a steel stud earring.

The Garry Middle School student learned all 167 lines of the lead role of “Macbeth,” a monstrous accomplishment that surprises his classmates, who have also memorized parts for a June 5 production.

Even more surprising: Leo and his classmates in the special education class have trouble reading a newspaper, let alone the King’s English.

All 31 students in the first period class are at least two years behind in reading and writing skills; some can’t write a complete sentence.

But because of firm prodding and unexpected inspiration, the students are prepared to enact one of the world’s most famous plays.

Sharp edges of the language are smoothed, dropping it nearer the level of the students.

But watching Lady Macbeth, played by 14 year-old Persephanie Johnston, perform the “out, out damn spot” scene with mania, it’s clear the students understand the story.

“What she’s doing is going, eeeeeyyyeehhh, yuck,” Johnston explained after the rehearsal.

Teachers Barbara Cunningham, Rebecca Franklin and Glenda Sederstrom came up with the idea while writing a grant proposal.

“We said, let’s try something totally outrageous,” said Cunningham, who has no theater experience. “What would you think would be the hardest thing for special-ed kids to do? Shakespeare.”

They picked Macbeth because of the gore; the students strut around the room with their fake swords and, on-stage, die with flair.

They found a rewrite of the play that brought language closer to the students’ third-grade reading level. The class has been working on it since February, after getting drama instruction from North Central High teacher Tom Armitage and his students.

As expected, The Bard is intimidating.

“It’s scary at first, and what if you get up there and mess up,” said Jenkins. One of the three witches cried during rehearsal, paralyzed with stage fright.

The challenge also afforded unusual victories. “We have kids who are coming to school who’ve not come before,” said Franklin.

“Math and science are the hardest. This is the funnest,” said Johnston, who, with two other plays on her resume, is the only veteran.

The students, like most with some type of learning disability, can memorize by rote, the teachers say, a skill developed to compensate.

But the students appear to understand the text as well.

“Isn’t it remarkable,” said Cunningham. “It’s not paper and pencil, so I guess it’s OK” to them.

As the rehearsal wound up, the Garry gym was suddenly full of students from the next period’s physical education class. The stage was littered with dead soldiers in high tops; Macduff hacked Macbeth, and the curtain fell.

The physical education students stopped to clap. The curtain reopened and the dramatists instinctively formed for a curtain call. A problem was quickly apparent.

“Oh shoot, I guess we’re going to have to teach these kids to bow,” said Franklin.

The students will perform for the public at 7 p.m. June 5 in the Garry gym. Performances for the student body will be June 2.

Garry seeks neighborhood input

In the spirit of decentralized decision making, Garry Middle School administrators are holding a “Visions for Garry” discussion to talk about the future of the Northeast Spokane school.

Parents and community members are encouraged to attend. The planning session is tonight at 7 p.m. in the school band room.

War hero to speak at Evergreen

World War II hero Vernon Baker is speaking to Evergreen Elementary School students today at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and to the community at 7 p.m. in the school gym.

Baker, a retired Army lieutenant, received the Medal of Honor earlier this year for his role in the Battle of Castle Aghinolfi, Italy, in 1945.

Baker wiped out three machine gun nests by himself, helped silence two others, blew up two bunkers and destroyed an observation post.

He is the only living African-American World War II soldier to receive the honor. A book profiling Baker’s life is in the works.

For more information, call the school at 468-3022.

Acting talent on display

Call it a Charade-off - drama students from eight Spokane schools trying to one-up each other in improvisational comedy.

North Central High is hosting an all-city theater sports event Friday. Forty kids from NC, Shadle Park, Rogers, Mead, Gonzaga Prep, Ferris and Lewis and Clark will compete for the honor of being the best student goofball, as judged by a panel of professional goofballs.

Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for students with ASB cards. Call Tom Armitage at NC, at 353-5220, for more information.

Woodridge raises money, spirit

Running, skipping, walking and cheering in the warm afternoon sun recently, 500 Woodridge Elementary School students showed their spirit and raised money for their school.

The first Spirit Run, the school’s only fundraiser this year, raised $10,515.83. The goal was $10,000.

“We were very pleased with it,” said Jolene Seedall, one of the organizers.

Students walked or ran around the school as many times as they could in a 30-minute period. Many were joined by their families.

Money will be used for a variety of projects, including school computers, computer programs, activities and assemblies, and enlarging the Big Toy.

“It was fun,” said Karyl Taylor, a sixth-grader who made it around the school four times.

“I think they should keep doing it. It’s a good way to get more money for technology and more computers.”

Candy and wrapping paper fundraisers were scrapped this year in favor of the Spirit Run. Third-graders collected the largest amount of donations.

Students were rewarded with a juice bar at the end of the run.

A special ice cream party to honor the students’ accomplishment was held later in the week.

The event was organized by PTSO co-chairs Seedall and Kaye Schaich, and the Spirit Run Commitee.

Salk students pitch in

Salk Middle School students spent Tuesday taking care of the grounds of the Children Center at Ogden Hall, fulfilling a year long commitment to help Spokane domestic violence shelter.

Students planted rhododendrons, planter boxes full of petunias and lilies, pulled weeds and erected a bird bath. The students raised money for the bird bath and shrubs.

Willard benefits from donated books

The American Association of University Women donated 125 books to Willard Elementary this week, giving third- and fourth-grade students a book to take home. The society also donated a copy of “Animalia” by Graeme Base to the school library.

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MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the North Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a North Side school or about the achievements of North Side students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Deadline is Monday. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Jonathan Martin Staff writer Staff writer Kathy Mulady contributed to this story.