This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Monday, March 15, 2010
PERIOD 7 - MRS. ELLIOT
Last week and today, we watched the documentary, IN THE EYE OF THE STORM. Please post a reflective comment about the film and make sure to comment on at least one other student's post. Finally, what did you personally take away from the film?
This was an eye opener very interesting how a 3rd grade teacher can make such wonderful changes I had never heard of Mrs.Ellot what she did was very inspiring
I think it is interesting that this social experiment was conducted with third graders. It is brilliant, in my opinion, because in third grade kids are very vulnerable to manipulation and her experiment showed how viscious the cycle of prejudice is. Once descrimination is instilled in a young child who is unaware of what they are doing... it will carry through the rest of their lives.
I had seen a similar movie to this one regarding the Holocaust. A high school teacher tried to create a Nazi Youth and instead of Hitler's salute he called it the wave. At the end, the whole high school in their auditorium were completely under the power of the teacher. The movie ended with the teachers making all of the students aware of how they had been manipulated. It is very alarming to see people transform into mindless sheep before your eyes.
Sanjiv Banavali I think that Mrs. Elliot did a great deed to society in teaching third graders about how discrimination is wrong. Third graders are also an ideal group of people to conduct the experiment on because like Allie said, the third graders are easily manipulated. This sort of manipulation is definitly a positive because now young kids grow up thinking that discriminating is a bad conept which is true.
Mrs. Elliot's experiments were extremely interesting to observe, especially because these students are in the essential stages of cognitive development. Having such a meaningful experience at such a young age would have a very long lasting effect on them, and by instilling the right beliefs as Mrs. Elliot has succeeded in doing, she has molded these young minds into thinking the right things.
Allison Shea So far this movie is a real eye opener. But I liked it a lot. I think that it is amazing how quickly the mind can change and one can suddenly feel superior just by being told. The thing I found the most shocking however was that the student's test scores were actually effected the day they were lower. I guess when people tell you you are worse than other people and are dumb you start believing them very quickly. This was, for me the most disturbing part of the film. Here Mrs. Elliot has real proof that discrimination has an effect on a person's performance.
I agree with Evan that they Mrs. Elliot clearly gave them a life long lesson. And they are all planning to pass it on to their kids too, which is great.
i completely agree with brian. i knew something intersting happened with the experiment because you were showing it to us but i did not think it would be as intersting and shocking as it was. i thought the kids reacted perfectly to the experiment, if not better then expected. i think that this is a great experiemnt and obviously did wonders for the students it was tested on
Mrs. Elliot is someone who inspires me as an education teacher. She did a difficult task in placing her students in the shoes and perspectives of those who were being segregated during that time. What really stood out for me were the kids. At first I merely thought that the kids we're different from other third graders by being more considerate and realizing the way other's despite their race ought to be treated. However psychologically what Mrs. Elliot did was intelligent. To involve young kids about the segreation that was taking place during that time period was a smart move. This just shows that we should never underestimate kids, because they are our future. Teaching kids in advance of what's wrong and right within race is a consideration in which i believe all teachers should approve in taking a part of. With proven evidence of this experiment working on other kids this lesson should be spread world wide. I agree with Allie, when kids are young everything affects the outcome of their future.
i think it was a very interesting approach to take in teaching third graders about racism. I beleive that she did a wonderful job relaying the message that discriminating because of someones physical appearance is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated.
This film surprised me on how abiding full grown adults can be towards an authority figure. I couldn't believe how long the man in the corner simply stood there while he was being humiliated in front of the entire group. Nobody seemed to have the courage to question the teacher's rediculous accusations until the very end.
Allie's parellel between this experiment and the Nazi party is completely valid. It terrifying how the general public is so dissmissive over their actions when they are convinced that they are merely doing their jobs.
when i saw this movie i finally figured out what the full veiw of what descrimination was and how Mrs. Ellot taught them how this whole racism cycle has been going and what it does to others. i also noticed like many of the other students that how people learn about racism is from the actions of the aduts who they try to be like which means the racist adults actions are being imitated by the kids which shows the kids right from wrong in there own minds so if you take the adults and have them all teach inthere own way that racism is bad then there will be no more racism and there will finally be peace and harmoney in the human race.
Like Allison, I found it very interesting that the student's test scores were effected by this experiment. I think that it is truly amazing how quickly children are able to learn. What stuck out the most to me was how much these children truly learned over two days. They went from not really knowing about discrimination and yet after feeling it just once, they were all changed enough by it to have it have a lasting effect on the rest of their lives. Although people may question the ethics of this experiment, Mrs. Elliot has scientific proof of her success based on the students' test scores. In contrast, the adults "got the message" but not with the same resounding success as the third graders did. This brings up an interesting question of what should be taught to children at what ages to have the best effect.
I thought the film was very interesting. It was really cool to see how the 3rd graders reacted to the experiment. I think they learned a valuable lesson about discrimination and how it is wrong. I also thought it was cool how the experiment can be used on adults and it still is able to convey the same important message as it did to the 3rd graders. I personally thought about what I would do in that situation and I think I probably would have reacted the same way as some of the third graders and it really would be a dose of reality to feel what it is like to be discriminated against.
sara, I also hadn’t heard of Mrs. Elliot. I think this is a very inspirational film and should be shown in school to more students. It was very inspiring to see an ordinary 3rd grade teacher making such a difference in peoples lives.
I agree with Allie's comments about the danger of manipulation, especially in young children, because they look to adults as role-models and as absolute authorities. I was very interesting to note how the kids took the teacher's word for truth and there was very little resistance to the statements and rules that Mrs. Elliot made. Even more surprising was how only suggestions from Mrs. Elliot herself on how the inferior group should be dealt with led the kids to enact and participate in their own forms of opression and prejudice, as with the child who called his friend names on the playgroud, which wasn't instructed by the teacher. The children's ability to analyze and interpret their situations was also surprising, because the young boy who punched his friend was able to see that his violent actions in no way helped alieviate his situation or his feelings.
After seeing this film, I now fully understand how important it is to teach about prejudice and racism to such young students. By comparing the effects of the experiment on the 3rd graders to that of the adults, it's clear that it's far more successful to introduce the concept to kids at a very young age- the 3rd grade students were so easily manipulated; it was an experience that stuck with them for the rest of their lives. For the adults, they were less easily convinced and therefore didn't get the same message- because of this, I really think this lesson should be taught to young children around the country. I agree with what Allison said about the superiority or inferiority complexes and how they were reflected in their test scores- I thought it was incredible to see how performances were so influenced by self-esteem.
I thought it was amazing to see the effect of the exercise, and the courage of Mrs. Elliot. And in addition to that, I keep on different thoughts about it, but one thing that really caught my attention, was something that Tom said in class, on how we believe in everything the teachers say because they are there to teach us, and that it might sometimes be not true. Fact is, it is not easy to stand up for what you believe, and sometimes to know what is right and wrong. And as Mr. Gallagher always says ignorance is the most powerful and dangerous weapon. It is just incredible how people get so easily manipulated, and easily driven by power. But I believe that with more exercises like that the world would be better, and more people would think twice before acting towards something in some act of prejudice, and maybe would drive the desire of people to know the truth about things, rather than what they are told all the time.
i think that this a very good idea and should be used as a teaching method because you cant understand how oppressed people felt unless you are put into a similar situation
It is shocking to see that little kids who really havent been exposed to racism before will act in such a way. Even without many outside influences they automatically assume a position of power when possible. Perhaps people are naturally wired to have racist tenancies. Which would only make the battle to educate people that much more important.
Osman Alnaal I was shocked to see how the children turned on eachother so quicky, just because they thought they were superior to eachother. I also was surprised to see how the children who were "inferior" decided to act just like they were inferior. What I took from this film is that humans are very easily influenced, and we must start to think about everything before we act.
Going along with osmans comment I too was surprised because at the beginig of the video many if the kids that were segregated seemed to be friends until they had something different between them
Allie, whats the name of that movie, I think I would be interested in seeing that film. I also agree with your statement of once discrimination is instilled in a young child who is unaware of what they are doing, it will carry through out the rest of their life.
I was absolutely flabbergasted with the results of the experiment. To see how successful it was on the children was pleasing to the eye. Even seeing this used on adults was amusing. I wish that this method of experimentation could be used today without fear of a lawsuit. Lawyers along with their clients can be so petty with ignorance sometimes. Their selfishness makes me want to give them a dope slap.
i think this expeiriment was really interesting to see how people reacted to this old woman,( who made me really laugh by the way) was bossing them around to try and show them how discrimination is wrong. the way she did it especially to 3rd graders in the beginging is 100% setting a foundation for the younger generation
25 comments:
This was an eye opener very interesting how a 3rd grade teacher can make such wonderful changes I had never heard of Mrs.Ellot what she did was very inspiring
I think it is interesting that this social experiment was conducted with third graders. It is brilliant, in my opinion, because in third grade kids are very vulnerable to manipulation and her experiment showed how viscious the cycle of prejudice is. Once descrimination is instilled in a young child who is unaware of what they are doing... it will carry through the rest of their lives.
I had seen a similar movie to this one regarding the Holocaust. A high school teacher tried to create a Nazi Youth and instead of Hitler's salute he called it the wave. At the end, the whole high school in their auditorium were completely under the power of the teacher. The movie ended with the teachers making all of the students aware of how they had been manipulated. It is very alarming to see people transform into mindless sheep before your eyes.
Sanjiv Banavali
I think that Mrs. Elliot did a great deed to society in teaching third graders about how discrimination is wrong. Third graders are also an ideal group of people to conduct the experiment on because like Allie said, the third graders are easily manipulated. This sort of manipulation is definitly a positive because now young kids grow up thinking that discriminating is a bad conept which is true.
Mrs. Elliot's experiments were extremely interesting to observe, especially because these students are in the essential stages of cognitive development. Having such a meaningful experience at such a young age would have a very long lasting effect on them, and by instilling the right beliefs as Mrs. Elliot has succeeded in doing, she has molded these young minds into thinking the right things.
Allison Shea
So far this movie is a real eye opener. But I liked it a lot. I think that it is amazing how quickly the mind can change and one can suddenly feel superior just by being told. The thing I found the most shocking however was that the student's test scores were actually effected the day they were lower. I guess when people tell you you are worse than other people and are dumb you start believing them very quickly. This was, for me the most disturbing part of the film. Here Mrs. Elliot has real proof that discrimination has an effect on a person's performance.
I agree with Evan that they Mrs. Elliot clearly gave them a life long lesson. And they are all planning to pass it on to their kids too, which is great.
i completely agree with brian. i knew something intersting happened with the experiment because you were showing it to us but i did not think it would be as intersting and shocking as it was. i thought the kids reacted perfectly to the experiment, if not better then expected. i think that this is a great experiemnt and obviously did wonders for the students it was tested on
Mrs. Elliot is someone who inspires me as an education teacher. She did a difficult task in placing her students in the shoes and perspectives of those who were being segregated during that time. What really stood out for me were the kids. At first I merely thought that the kids we're different from other third graders by being more considerate and realizing the way other's despite their race ought to be treated. However psychologically what Mrs. Elliot did was intelligent. To involve young kids about the segreation that was taking place during that time period was a smart move. This just shows that we should never underestimate kids, because they are our future. Teaching kids in advance of what's wrong and right within race is a consideration in which i believe all teachers should approve in taking a part of. With proven evidence of this experiment working on other kids this lesson should be spread world wide. I agree with Allie, when kids are young everything affects the outcome of their future.
i think it was a very interesting approach to take in teaching third graders about racism. I beleive that she did a wonderful job relaying the message that discriminating because of someones physical appearance is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated.
This film surprised me on how abiding full grown adults can be towards an authority figure. I couldn't believe how long the man in the corner simply stood there while he was being humiliated in front of the entire group. Nobody seemed to have the courage to question the teacher's rediculous accusations until the very end.
Allie's parellel between this experiment and the Nazi party is completely valid. It terrifying how the general public is so dissmissive over their actions when they are convinced that they are merely doing their jobs.
when i saw this movie i finally figured out what the full veiw of what descrimination was and how Mrs. Ellot taught them how this whole racism cycle has been going and what it does to others. i also noticed like many of the other students that how people learn about racism is from the actions of the aduts who they try to be like which means the racist adults actions are being imitated by the kids which shows the kids right from wrong in there own minds so if you take the adults and have them all teach inthere own way that racism is bad then there will be no more racism and there will finally be peace and harmoney in the human race.
Like Allison, I found it very interesting that the student's test scores were effected by this experiment. I think that it is truly amazing how quickly children are able to learn. What stuck out the most to me was how much these children truly learned over two days. They went from not really knowing about discrimination and yet after feeling it just once, they were all changed enough by it to have it have a lasting effect on the rest of their lives. Although people may question the ethics of this experiment, Mrs. Elliot has scientific proof of her success based on the students' test scores. In contrast, the adults "got the message" but not with the same resounding success as the third graders did. This brings up an interesting question of what should be taught to children at what ages to have the best effect.
I thought the film was very interesting. It was really cool to see how the 3rd graders reacted to the experiment. I think they learned a valuable lesson about discrimination and how it is wrong. I also thought it was cool how the experiment can be used on adults and it still is able to convey the same important message as it did to the 3rd graders. I personally thought about what I would do in that situation and I think I probably would have reacted the same way as some of the third graders and it really would be a dose of reality to feel what it is like to be discriminated against.
sara,
I also hadn’t heard of Mrs. Elliot. I think this is a very inspirational film and should be shown in school to more students. It was very inspiring to see an ordinary 3rd grade teacher making such a difference in peoples lives.
I agree with Allie's comments about the danger of manipulation, especially in young children, because they look to adults as role-models and as absolute authorities. I was very interesting to note how the kids took the teacher's word for truth and there was very little resistance to the statements and rules that Mrs. Elliot made. Even more surprising was how only suggestions from Mrs. Elliot herself on how the inferior group should be dealt with led the kids to enact and participate in their own forms of opression and prejudice, as with the child who called his friend names on the playgroud, which wasn't instructed by the teacher. The children's ability to analyze and interpret their situations was also surprising, because the young boy who punched his friend was able to see that his violent actions in no way helped alieviate his situation or his feelings.
After seeing this film, I now fully understand how important it is to teach about prejudice and racism to such young students. By comparing the effects of the experiment on the 3rd graders to that of the adults, it's clear that it's far more successful to introduce the concept to kids at a very young age- the 3rd grade students were so easily manipulated; it was an experience that stuck with them for the rest of their lives. For the adults, they were less easily convinced and therefore didn't get the same message- because of this, I really think this lesson should be taught to young children around the country. I agree with what Allison said about the superiority or inferiority complexes and how they were reflected in their test scores- I thought it was incredible to see how performances were so influenced by self-esteem.
I thought it was amazing to see the effect of the exercise, and the courage of Mrs. Elliot. And in addition to that, I keep on different thoughts about it, but one thing that really caught my attention, was something that Tom said in class, on how we believe in everything the teachers say because they are there to teach us, and that it might sometimes be not true.
Fact is, it is not easy to stand up for what you believe, and sometimes to know what is right and wrong. And as Mr. Gallagher always says ignorance is the most powerful and dangerous weapon.
It is just incredible how people get so easily manipulated, and easily driven by power. But I believe that with more exercises like that the world would be better, and more people would think twice before acting towards something in some act of prejudice, and maybe would drive the desire of people to know the truth about things, rather than what they are told all the time.
i think that this a very good idea and should be used as a teaching method because you cant understand how oppressed people felt unless you are put into a similar situation
It is shocking to see that little kids who really havent been exposed to racism before will act in such a way. Even without many outside influences they automatically assume a position of power when possible. Perhaps people are naturally wired to have racist tenancies. Which would only make the battle to educate people that much more important.
Osman Alnaal
I was shocked to see how the children turned on eachother so quicky, just because they thought they were superior to eachother. I also was surprised to see how the children who were "inferior" decided to act just like they were inferior. What I took from this film is that humans are very easily influenced, and we must start to think about everything before we act.
Going along with osmans comment I too was surprised because at the beginig of the video many if the kids that were segregated seemed to be friends until they had something different between them
Allie, whats the name of that movie, I think I would be interested in seeing that film. I also agree with your statement of once discrimination is instilled in a young child who is unaware of what they are doing, it will carry through out the rest of their life.
I was absolutely flabbergasted with the results of the experiment. To see how successful it was on the children was pleasing to the eye. Even seeing this used on adults was amusing. I wish that this method of experimentation could be used today without fear of a lawsuit. Lawyers along with their clients can be so petty with ignorance sometimes. Their selfishness makes me want to give them a dope slap.
i think this expeiriment was really interesting to see how people reacted to this old woman,( who made me really laugh by the way) was bossing them around to try and show them how discrimination is wrong. the way she did it especially to 3rd graders in the beginging is 100% setting a foundation for the younger generation
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