Teaching Plan in World Literature (Lit 2)

Title of the Story: JUDGE ME BY THE FOOTPRINTS I LEAVE BEHIND

Anonymous (from the internet)

Time: 1 hour

Materials: Copy of the story

Strips of paper containing the assumptions about parent-children
relationships
Paper and pen

Methods/Strategies: Socratic Method, Giving of Opinions

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to:

1. express their thoughts about their relationship with their parents;

2. answer specific questions related to the story; and
3. write a diary focusing on the theme of being judgmental.

I. Pre-reading Activity

Prompt Question:

Have you ever been rejected in your offer of friendship to a person? How did you
react to it?

Direction. The following are assumptions about parent – children relationship. Which of
these do you concur to and which you do not.

1. Children find disclosing or discussing their problems/concerns with their parents

difficult or uncomfortable.
2. Parents’ love their children unconditionally. They do not look on the imperfections
of their kids nor give conditions in giving their love and concern.
3. A parent cannot reject a favor or request of his/her child regardless of its (the
request) kind.
4. Parents only want the best for their children.
5. Children rebel or defy their parents when rejected of a request or when ignored
by them.
II. Prediction

1. “I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.” How do parents welcome this kind of
request?
2. He lost an arm and a leg. What might have happened to the person?
3. At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from
him. Why do you think the son hung up the phone?
4. “Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us,” said the
father. If you were the one receiving this message, how would you react to it?
5. From the foregoing ideas about the story, what do you think is its title?

III. Silent Reading

The students will be asked to read the story before a discussion of its elements
will be made.

IV. Questions for Discussion

1. Who is the son bringing home to San Francisco?

2. What was the parent’s initial reaction to the request of the son?
3. After having told about the condition of the friend, did the parents maintain their
initial reaction?
4. Do you approve of the son’s decision of not telling his parents about his real
condition? Why or why not?
5. Describe the son. The parents.
6. The story is symbolic of establishing friendship. How are you in choosing friends?
7. Write a letter addressed to the parents of the soldier about your sentiments to
their act.

V. “If you were” Activity

Ask the class to reflect on the following questions

1. If you were the son, would you have revealed or concealed your condition? Why?
2. If you were the son, what would you do have done after hearing straight from
your parents their refusal to your request?

V. Post-reading Activity

Diary Writing
Re-evaluate yourself as a person. Think of the times you were too judgmental
about people. Think of the times you rejected others’ offer for friendship because they are
not like you – who are beautiful, rich and famous. Think of the many times you have hurt
others’ feelings. Then redefine your being, your concept about friends and friendship,
your attitude. Write in your journal or diary about this change in your disposition and on
how you can improve your associations with others.
 JUDGE ME BY THE FOOTPRINTS I LEAVE BEHIND

A story was told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in
Vietnam.

He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but
I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know,” the son continued. “He was hurt pretty badly
in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere
else to go; I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you are asking. Someone with such a
handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t
let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and
forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.

A few days later, however, they received a call from San Francisco police. Their son
had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.
The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to
identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered
something they didn’t know; their son had only one arm and one leg.