Ethos Education

Wicked or Good? The Cost of Doing What’s Right

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ASSEMBLY OBJECTIVE

To explore whether being good is the same as being seen as good, and why doing the right thing can sometimes come with a cost. Using clips from Wicked: For Good, students will reflect on reputation, peer pressure, courage, integrity, and the choices people make when faced with injustice or public opinion. The assembly will encourage students to think about how quickly people can be judged or labelled, and whether popularity always reflects truth or goodness. Through links to the Bible, students will explore the Christian belief that God looks beyond outward appearances and sees what is truly in a person’s heart, and that living with justice, mercy, honesty, and courage matters more than image or reputation.

FILM CLIPS Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures) Certificate: 12A

  • Clip 1. Featurette: Wicked & Good (1 min 55 secs).

  • Clip 2. Wicked: For Good Trailer #1 (1min 19 secs). Play from 0:50 (“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) and stop at 2:09 (after “It’s time for both of us to fly”).

BIBLE

  • 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) The Lord said to Samuel, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
  • Micah 6:8 (NIRV) “You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God.”

SUPPORTING VALUES EDUCATION

The assembly supports British Values including mutual respect, individual liberty, and tolerance of different perspectives. It enables students to reflect on moral courage, integrity, and the importance of standing up for what is right even when it is difficult or unpopular. It encourages critical thinking about reputation, public opinion, and the ways people can be judged unfairly based on appearance, rumours, or labels. Students are invited to consider the importance of honesty, compassion, and respectful disagreement, while also exploring themes of justice, empathy, anti-bullying, and responsible leadership.

OPENING ACTIVITY “Quick Vote” (See the bottom of this page for alternative options)

  • Say:
    • “I am going to ask a series of quick questions. For each one, please vote with a show of hands, put your hand up if you would answer ‘yes’, and keep your hands down if you would answer ‘no’.”
  • Select from the following questions and ask what might be appropriate for your pupils:
    • In films, are the heroes usually easy to recognise?
    • Have you ever watched a film where the “villain” turned out not to be completely bad?
    • Do crowds in films usually make good decisions?
    • Can someone break rules but still do the right thing?
    • Is the most popular character usually the best person?
    • Can someone do the right thing and still end up unpopular?
    • Do people sometimes believe rumours too easily?
    • Is it easier to follow the crowd than stand alone?
    • Can someone look good on the outside but behave badly underneath?
    • Would you rather be liked by everyone or respected for doing what is right?
  • Say:
    • “Today’s assembly explores what really makes someone “good”, and whether public opinion is always right.”

SCRIPTED TALK (See the bottom of the this page for Headings/Bullets version)

Start using the Wicked: For Good, Doing Right, PowerPoint from here.

  • Say:
    • “Today I want to start with a question that sounds simple… but actually isn’t simple at all.”
    • “What makes someone ‘good’?”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 1]
      • “In the film Wicked: For Good, are two main characters: Elphaba, who becomes known as the ‘Wicked Witch’, and Glinda, who becomes celebrated as ‘Glinda the Good’.”
      • “The film explores what happens to their friendship as they make very different choices about what they believe is right.”
      • “At the heart of the story is a big question: does being seen as bad actually mean that someone is bad, and being seen as good actually mean that someone is good? Or is life actually more complicated than that?”
      • “In films, the heroes usually look confident, inspiring and admirable. Whereas villains often look threatening, difficult, rebellious, or different.”
      • “But some stories challenge that idea by asking:
        • What if the person everyone fears is not actually the villain?
        • What if public opinion gets things wrong?”
      • “That is one of the big ideas behind Wicked: For Good.
      • “This film asks whether labels always tell the truth.”
      • [PowerPoint Slide 2]
        • “Sometimes in real life, people also get labelled very quickly.”
        • “People can be judged because of rumours, appearance, popularity, mistakes, social media, or simply because they are different.”
        • “And once a label sticks, it can be difficult to change.”
  • Ask:
    • “Have you ever seen someone misunderstood because of what others assumed about them?”
    • “Why do crowds sometimes find it easier to judge than to understand?”
  • Say:
    • “In this story, Elphaba chooses to challenge powerful people and speak against things she believes are wrong.”
    • “But doing that comes with consequences. She loses popularity. She becomes isolated. People begin calling her dangerous and wicked.”
    • “Meanwhile, Glinda becomes admired and celebrated by the people around her.”
    • “The story asks an important question: is being seen as good the same thing as actually being good?”

Play Featurette: Wicked & Good

  • If you cannot play this clip, instead say:
    • [PowerPoint Slide 3]
      • “Elphaba has become hated and feared by the people of Oz after choosing to stand against the Wizard.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 4]
      • “Meanwhile, Glinda has become famous and admired as ‘Glinda the Good’.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 5]
      • “Glinda is celebrated publicly in sparkling costumes and parades.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 6]
      • “Whilst Elphaba lives alone in the forest.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 7]
      • “Their choices have changed their lives.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 8]
      • “Their friendship is tested by different beliefs about what is right.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 9]
      • “Is being popular more important than being good?”
  • Say:
    • “Glinda is celebrated publicly. Whilst Elphaba is hunted and feared.”
    • “But the film deliberately shows that things are more complicated. Elphaba is not evil simply because people call her wicked. In fact, she is fighting against lies and injustice.”
  • Ask:
    • “What do you think about the line in the film: ‘We can’t let good be just a word, it has to mean something’?”
  • Say:
    • “For some people, goodness is more about image than reality. Looking good. Sounding good. Posting the right things. Being admired. Fitting in.”
    • “But real goodness is often harder than that. Sometimes doing the right thing costs us. Exposing lies and injustice led to Elphaba being rejected and labelled.”
    • “History is full of people who were criticised for standing up for what they believed was right.”
    • “Sometimes crowds are wrong. Sometimes powerful people are wrong. Sometimes people labelled ‘difficult’ or ‘dangerous’ are actually the ones challenging injustice.”

Play clip Wicked: For Good Trailer #1

Play from 0:50 (“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) and stop at 2:09 (after “It’s time for both of us to fly”).

  • If you cannot play this clip, instead say:
    • [PowerPoint Slide 10]
      • “The people of Oz are hunting Elphaba because they believe she is dangerous.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 11]
      • “The Wizard demands her capture.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 12]
      • “However, Elphaba is trying to expose lies and fight for those being mistreated.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 13]
      • “While many people call her ‘wicked’, some characters begin to question whether the people in power are actually telling the truth.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 14]
      • “Glinda and Elphaba are both choosing different difficult paths.”
  • Say:
    • [PowerPoint Slide 15]
      • “Jesus challenged people who appeared good and respectable on the outside but acted unfairly or hypocritically towards others, looking impressive publicly while treating people badly. He said: ‘Everything they do is done for people to see’.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 16]
      • “In the Bible, it says: ‘People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’.”
      • “Christians believe that God looks beyond appearances, popularity, and labels.”
    • [PowerPoint Slide 17]
      • “Christians believe that God sees character, motives, and integrity. The Bible says that ‘You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God’.”
  • Ask:
    • [PowerPoint Slide 18]
      • “Why do you think appearance and reputation can become so important to people?”
  • Say:
    • “One of the hardest things in life is doing what is right when it costs you something: popularity, comfort, friendships, approval, or reputation.”
    • “It is much easier to follow the crowd. Much harder to stand apart from it.”
  • Say: Final Thought
    • [PowerPoint Slide 19]
      • “Maybe being ‘good’ is not about: looking perfect, being admired, or always being popular.”
      • “Maybe goodness is really about: courage, honesty, compassion, integrity, and standing up for what is right even when it is difficult.”
      • “And maybe sometimes…the people labelled ‘wicked’ are simply the people who refused to stay silent.”

REFLECTION

  • [PowerPoint Slide 20]
  • Say:
    • “Take a moment quietly to reflect.
      • Is there ever a time when you stayed silent because it felt easier?
      • Have you ever judged someone too quickly because of reputation or rumours?
      • What kind of person do you want to be when doing the right thing becomes difficult?”

PRAYER

“Dear God, help us to look beyond appearances and popularity. Give us courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult. Help us to treat others fairly, think carefully before judging people, and become people of honesty, kindness and integrity. Amen.”

YOU WILL NEED:

Photo copyright: Universal Pictures (from IMDB)

OTHER OPENING ACTIVITY OPTIONS

Option 2. “The Reputation Challenge”

  • Say:
    • “I am going to read out a list of different reasons why people sometimes get judged. If you have ever seen someone judged for that reason (in real life, online, in school, or in films) put your hand up.”
  • Read out some examples drawing from:
    • “Their fashion sense or clothing”
    • “The colour or style of their hair”
    • “How much money they have”
    • “Being unpopular”
    • “Being too popular”
    • “The friendship group they belong to”
    • “Their accent or the way they speak”
    • “How confident or shy they are”
    • “Their behaviour online or on social media”
    • “One mistake they made”
    • “Rumours people have heard about them”
    • “The music, films, or hobbies they like”
    • “Breaking a rule”
    • “Standing up against other people”
  • Ask:
    • “Why do you think people judge others so quickly?”
    • “Are first impressions always accurate?”
    • “Can someone be labelled as ‘bad’ or ‘difficult’ when they are actually trying to do the right thing?”
  • Say:
    • “In today’s assembly, we are going to explore what really makes someone ‘good’, and how easy it can be for people to be misunderstood or unfairly judged.”

Option 3. “What Would You Do?”

  • Say:
    • “I am going to describe a few situations. Don’t answer out loud, just think honestly to yourself about what you would do.”
  • Read out some of the following scenarios slowly, allowing a short pause after each one:
    • “A rumour about someone in your year is spreading quickly. Most people seem to believe it, even though nobody really knows if it is true. Would you join in, stay silent, or challenge it?”
    • “One of your friends is being laughed at by a larger group. You know it is unfair, but speaking up might make people turn on you too. What would you do?”
    • “A person at school has a bad reputation, but you notice they are actually kind and supportive to others when nobody is watching. Would you change your opinion of them?”
    • “Everyone around you thinks a certain person is ‘the problem.’ But deep down, you are not sure the situation is that simple. Would you question it?”
    • “You know somebody is doing the right thing, but it is making them unpopular. Would you support them publicly or only privately?”
  • Ask:
    • “Why can it sometimes feel difficult to stand apart from a crowd?”
    • “Why do people sometimes stay silent even when they know something is unfair?”
  • Say:
    • “Today’s assembly explores what really makes someone ‘good’, and what it can cost to do the right thing.”

HEADINGS & BULLETS

  • [PowerPoint Slide 1]
    • Film Wicked: For Good
    • What makes someone good?
  • [PowerPoint Slide 2]
    • People often get labelled
    • Misunderstood
    • Hard to shake off

Play Featurette: Wicked & Good

  • [PowerPoint Slide 3]
    • Elphaba the Wicked Witch hated
  • [PowerPoint Slide 4]
    • Glinda the Good admired
  • [PowerPoint Slide 5]
    • Contrast Glinda celebrated
  • [PowerPoint Slide 6]
    • Elphaba rejected
  • [PowerPoint Slide 7]
    • Choices that changed their lives
  • [PowerPoint Slide 8]
    • Relationship tested by different beliefs
  • [PowerPoint Slide 9]
    • “Popular” vs “Good”
    • “We can’t let good be just a word…”
    • Popularity
    • Reputation
    • Image
    • Integrity
    • Doing what is right

Play clip Wicked: For Good Trailer #1

Play from 0:50 (“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) and stop at 2:09 (after “It’s time for both of us to fly”).

  • [PowerPoint Slide 10]
    • Hunting Elphaba
    • Believe she is Wicked.
  • [PowerPoint Slide 11]
    • Wizard demanding her capture.
  • [PowerPoint Slide 12]
    • Elphaba expose lies
    • Fight for mistreated.
  • [PowerPoint Slide 13]
    • Truth vs public opinion
  • [PowerPoint Slide 14]
    • The cost of doing right
  • [PowerPoint Slide 15]
    • “Everything they do is done for people to see.”
      • Integrity
  • [PowerPoint Slide 16]
    • The Bible says “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
      • Appearance
      • Labels
  • [PowerPoint Slide 17]
    • “You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God.”
      • Character
  • [PowerPoint Slide 18]
    • Appearance and reputation become so important?
  • Final Thought
  • [PowerPoint Slide 19]
    • Being good is not about …
    • Maybe goodness is …
    • Courage
    • Honesty
    • Compassion
    • Standing apart from the crowd
    • “What kind of person do you want to be?”

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