The Pygmalion Effect: A Dramatic Study in the Classroom, by
Elizabeth Lawrence Guide Entry to 85.02.06: The unit consists of
a narrative portion explaining the work of Bernard Shaw,
specifically his play “Pygmalion.” Also, it parallels the lyrics
and staging of the musical “My Fair Lady” with Shaw’s play. In
total, the unit is a teaching unit with dual goals. The first
goal, having the students learn via dramatic play all the
literary points to be taught and the second goal, is the more
complex. This is to develop self-esteem in the classroom. My
student population is a Special Needs group. However, I do not
feel this unit is limited to this group alone. In an urban
environment in which we are the primary educators (guides) to
our students, a valuable lesson can be drawn from this unit. The
transformation of Eliza Doolittle does not stand alone. The
entire story is easily related to the day-to-day teaching
experiences of our public school teachers and their students. I
feel very strongly that the quality and