High School Musical

I. Settings/Characters The movie High School Musical was filmed at East High School located in Salt Lake City, Utah; the auditorium was at Murray High School and; the house of Gabriella and Troy was at Downtown Salt Lake City. The main characters are Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez, Sharpay Evans, Ryan Evans, Chad Danforth, and Taylor McKessie.

Troy Bolton is the most popular male student at East High School, and the captain of the varsity basketball team. He also had a crush on Gabriella Montez. Gabriella Montez is a Math whiz kid, an Einsteinette, and one of the braniacs on the scholastic decathlon team. She develops a love for Troy. Sharpay Evans is an energetic and fabulous student interested in theatre. She is also the president of the Drama Club. Ryan Evans is the twin brother of Sharpay Evans. Chad Danforth is Troy’s best friend since kindergarten. Last but not the least; Taylor McKessie is Gabriella’s best friend. She is captain of the school’s Scholastic Decathlon team.

II. Summary It was New Year’s Eve. Troy and Gabriella met at the party at the ski lodge. The two was called upon to sing karaoke together. At first they were shy to each other but they seemed attracted and exchanged numbers after the party. After the Christmas break, Gabriella moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and transferred at East High School over the break. Troy was surprised because he didn’t expect that he will see Gabriella there. After all, he was looking for her after the party. Troy showed Gabriella around the school.

They paused in front of the signup sheet for the audition of winter musical. The Drama Club president, Sharpay Evans was signed up the whole sheet because she assumed that Gabriella was interested at the play. Because of what happened, she wanted Gabriella to eliminate at the competition. She investigated the new girl and she found out the past academic achievement of Gabriella. So she printed an article about Gabriella and put it to Taylor McKessie’s locker. On the gym, Troy and his teammates had their basketball practice.

Troy had troubled focusing on the game because his mind was on Gabriella. Gabriella and Troy went to the musical auditions where Sharpay and Ryan performed. Both of them were too shy to audition. When Gabriella had the guts and courage to audition, Troy was volunteered to sing with her, but Ms. Darbus, their class adviser, told them that they were too late to audition. After Ms. Darbus leaved the auditorium, Kelsi Nielson, the composer of the musical, accidentally slide and dropped her things. Troy and Gabriella ran to help her, and they sang together as Kelsi played the piano. Ms. Darbus heard them and gave them a callback audition.

The callback list was posted. Sharpay and Ryan, and the rest of the Wildcats were shocked that Troy and Gabriella had auditioned for a musical. At the school cafeteria, everyone was confessing their hidden talents and passions. Taylor and Chad were alarmed. They wanted their friends to be focused on their upcoming competitions, the basketball championship and the scholastic decathlon, rather than the musical. To help Gabriella and Troy be focused and returned they were really belong, they set up them.

Chad and the basketball team tricked Troy by saying Gabriella was not important while she watched it through webcam that the scholastic decathlon had set up. Gabriella was hurt. She decided not to talk to Troy and not do the callback audition. Taylor and Chad felt guilty about what happened. So they decided to tell them the truth. They promised to support the two in the callback audition. Troy went to Gabriella’s house to convince her to do the callback audition with him.

Sharpay heard Troy and Gabriella practicing. As the president of the Drama Club, she convinced Ms. Darbus to change the schedule of the callback. The schedule was as same time and same day as the Scholastic Decathlon and basketball championship. So that Gabriella and Troy could not participate. The basketball team and the decathlon team worked and planned together just to make Gabriella and Troy do the callback.

On the day of competitions, Gabriella and Troy used the school’s computer to cause of delay in the basketball game and decathlon. With both competitions delayed, they ran to the auditorium, and Sharpay and Ryan had finished their song. They were late again but Ms. Darbus gave them a chance. Troy and Gabriella then auditioned and Ms. Darbus gave them the lead roles. Troy and the team won the championship while Gabriella and her team won the decathlon. Everyone was gathered at the school gym for celebration.

III. Reaction/Moral I’ve watched the film so many times when I was in high school. I really enjoyed it. I was a fan of this movie and also of the casts. This movie caught my attention and interest in two reasons. First, I love this movie because of the love story. It is like an adaptation of modern Romeo and Juliet. Lastly, I love this movie because of the school environment from the educational system to its facilities. I always dreamt to study at this kind of school environment. This movie also made me realize to be myself wherever I am and follow my dreams no matter what happened. I didn’t let anybody to ruin it or to become a hindrance to it.

IV. Guide Questions:

1. Compare the school environment in the movie to the educational system here in the Philippines in terms of:

a. Facilities – the school facilities in the film is far different from the school facilities here in the Philippines. In the film, their school is like a mall. Their facilities are good in quality and advanced. In the Philippines, there is no doubt that the facilities lag behind than that in the movie. But since there are more bright students and very innovative teachers here, resourcefulness and creativity makes both ends meet in terms of using available resources and indigenous materials to compensate for what is lacking.

b. Curriculum – The US government provides students from K-12 a state and board-adopted curriculum. Ever since they are following K-12 Curriculum. Meaning they are well-equipped in any aspects when it comes to education (facilities, books, teachers, budget etc.). Here in the Philippines, we are now following the K-12 Curriculum. But everyone is not ready for this. It was lack of preparations. Lack of preparations for teachers, students and schools. Teachers are not trained well. The facilities are not suitable for learning activities. Although, teachers are resourceful. But still, we do not have enough budget to sustain this kind of program.

c. Students/Learners – the students in the film are intelligent and gifted. They are all responsible enough at their age and also independent. They are well-disciplined, productive, participative in all school’s activities, confident, and matured. And of course, they are rich kid. Students here in the Philippines are also intelligent and gifted. But they are shy to show it that is why it’s not enhanced. Most of the students had to walk miles and miles without shoes or slippers on because they could not afford to buy. Textbooks are sold to students but those who cannot afford them would then have to continue with their education with very minimal resources. And most of the time they are stopped to study and go to school because it is expensive.

2. Discuss the role of the following on the development of the learners:

a. Parents – the role of parents towards the development of the learner secure their children’s future by giving a good quality education. They should guide and monitor their children’s performance at school. They should be supportive. They should give all the things needed by a student like a quiet and comfortable study area at home, school supplies, learning materials and of course support.

b. Teacher – the role of teacher towards the development of the learners is to create a caring environment in the classroom. Teachers should listen to what the students have to say and develop a curriculum that is meaningful to the children have the most successful students.

c. Community – the role of the community towards the development of the learner are to provide physical facilities like buildings, teaching aids, teachers and other elements for better education for the community school; to provide financial assistance or donations for educational development of the community. Community takes the responsibility of school and helps in maintaining discipline.

3. Relate the course “Curriculum Development” on the film you watched. Answer: As far as I have learned in the course Curriculum Development, the curriculum of the school should also base on the needs and abilities of the students. The curricular program should help in boosting and enhancing the talents and passions of the students. In the film, what curriculum they used is child-centered curriculum. They built the curriculum according to the needs of the students for the better learning and productive application.