A Class Divided (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

Summary

The video script recounts Jane Elliott's groundbreaking classroom experiment addressing discrimination and prejudice, initiated after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. By dividing her third-grade class in Riceville, Iowa, based on eye color, Elliott created a microcosm of societal bias, illustrating the arbitrary nature of discrimination. The powerful exercise, which included differential treatment and restrictions based on eye color, aimed to make students empathize with the experiences of marginalized groups. The script also discusses the long-term impact of the lesson on students and its adaptation for various audiences, including a high school reunion and a prison sociology course.

Takeaways

• 🕵️ The script recounts a powerful educational experiment conducted by Jane Elliott, a third-grade teacher in Iowa, aimed at teaching her students about the harmful effects of discrimination and prejudice.
• 📚 The experiment was initiated in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., as a way to address the topic of racism in a tangible and impactful manner to young students.
• 👁️ The 'Eye of the Storm' exercise divided the class based on eye color, creating a microcosm of society with artificial social hierarchies based on a physical characteristic.
• 🚫 The exercise included rules that favored blue-eyed students over brown-eyed ones, simulating the experience of discrimination and the associated feelings of inferiority and injustice.
• 🔄 The roles were reversed the next day, allowing students to experience both privileged and oppressed positions, highlighting the arbitrary nature of such divisions.
• 🧐 The exercise had profound psychological effects on the students, causing them to reflect on their behavior and attitudes towards others, and the impact of discrimination on self-esteem and social interaction.
• 🤔 The script reveals the students' reflections years later, showing the lasting impact of the exercise on their understanding of discrimination and their attitudes towards others.
• 📉 The experiment also had unintended academic benefits, as students' test scores improved following the exercise, suggesting a link between self-perception and academic performance.
• 🏛️ The film of the exercise has been used in various settings, including prisons and schools, to foster discussions on prejudice and discrimination.
• 👥 The script includes a high school reunion where former students revisit the exercise, indicating the long-term effects on their personal development and social awareness.
• 💡 The story of Jane Elliott's class serves as a potent reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in combating discrimination and building a more inclusive society.

Q & A

What significant event happened 27 years prior to the video script's recording, and how did it affect America's cities?

The assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. occurred 27 years prior to the script's recording. This event led to an eruption of grief and frustration in America's cities.

What was the teacher's name in Riceville, Iowa, who decided to address the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. with her third-grade class?

The teacher's name was Jane Elliott, who decided to deal with the topic of the assassination in a concrete way with her third-grade class.

What was the unique experiment conducted by Jane Elliott in her classroom to teach her students about prejudice and discrimination?

Jane Elliott conducted an experiment based on eye color, dividing her class into 'blue-eyed' and 'brown-eyed' groups and assigning different privileges and restrictions to each group to simulate discrimination.

What was the immediate impact of the eye color experiment on the students' behavior as observed by Jane Elliott?

The experiment quickly turned thoughtful children into discriminating individuals, showing how quickly prejudices can form and affect behavior.

How did the students feel after experiencing the discrimination exercise, according to their reflections during the high school reunion?

The students felt a range of emotions, including anger, humiliation, and a sense of being demoralized. The experience made them more empathetic towards those who face discrimination.

What was the unexpected academic outcome observed by Jane Elliott after conducting the eye color exercise with her students?

An unexpected outcome was that the students' academic scores improved, particularly on the day they were treated as superior and maintained a higher level for the rest of the year.

How did Jane Elliott's lesson in discrimination spread beyond her classroom?

The lesson spread through the film 'The Eye of the Storm,' which was widely used with students, teachers, and organizations concerned about human relations, even being used in a maximum-security prison.

What was the reaction of the corrections department employees when they were subjected to Jane Elliott's discrimination exercise?

The employees experienced feelings of powerlessness, anger, and frustration, which helped them empathize with the experiences of minority groups facing discrimination.

What was the main message Jane Elliott hoped to convey through her discrimination exercise?

The main message was to demonstrate the unfairness and harm of discrimination, to promote empathy, and to encourage individuals to challenge and resist bigotry.

How did Jane Elliott's approach to teaching about discrimination evolve over time, and what were the long-term effects on her students?

Elliott's approach remained consistent, focusing on experiential learning through the eye color exercise. The long-term effects included a deeper understanding of discrimination and a lasting bond among her students, who felt like a family after the exercise.