This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Friday, September 28, 2012
PERIOD 7 - A CLASS DIVIDED
You have been watching the documentary, "A Class Divided." Please post a reflective comment about the film. What did you personally take away from the film?
29 comments:
Amy Lightbody
said...
This flim truly showed the origin of one's racist beliefs because it demonstrated that segretgation and racism is often based upon society's influence on an individual, rather than genetic inheriting ideas. The children who were once friends in the third grade class suddenly disassociated themselves with those who were different. The students became angry that they lost priviledges that they once had and were put in the shoes of black people and minorities who are often discriminated against. The movie was very valuable to see how even young children have prejudices.
I believe Mrs. Elliot took a great risk and was very courageous for using this lesson to teach her third graders about segregation. The words that the children used to define non-white people was shocking to me because it seemed second nature for them to use those words when in society today, it would be highly frowned upon. She demonstrated her strong will and desire to teach children about segregation using this lesson tactic even though it was against public opinion. It was interesting to see how these innocent children turned so viciously against each other to the point where one kid had punched another. I feel like this lesson from Mrs. Elliot was very effective in teaching children about segregation and taught them that we are all one race together: the human race.
I agree with Amy when she states that segregation and racism is based on society's influence rather than inheriting ideas. The society and the media have a lot of influence on people, even today. This movie was very effective in teaching viewers about segregation and getting an insight on being in the shoes of black people
I agree with Jake that Mrs. Elliot was very courageous based on her actions; she made a large difference in the lives of the students she teached and those who came in contact with the students later on and kept on teaching her views even when the rest of town did not want to draw attention to themselves.
I found it amazing how the children started out using derogatory terms to describe black americans, simply because that was what they were taught in the past. I learned that children can quickly be changed to believe there is a new way to discriminate against others simply by having an authoritative person teach them in that manner. Racism is learned, and there is no physical divide between human beings. I learned that the only true way to target racism and discrimination is to target the younger generations, who are more easily impressionable, and from them, the nation as a whole can change.
After watching this film, it really locked in the idea of how children’s minds are like sponges and how influenced one can be by the society that surrounds them. Mrs. Elliot demonstrated segregation with her third class. It was shocking how quickly and viciously the kids turned against their friends, just because they were told they were different. It gave the kids a sense of being powerless and anger do to lost privileges and lack of confidence when asked to complete tasks. This was also seen in the workshop done by Mrs. Elliot years later teaching adults of their prejudices ways. I believe that Mrs. Elliot’s lesson about segregation should be taught more in schools because of the effectiveness it had on the children and the adults.
I agree with Molly that the nation as a whole can change by targeting the younger generations. Racism is not an inherited trait; it is based on society’s influence on a person. Based on this, segregation and racism can be changed and eliminated for the future, but it all starts with an authoritative person needs to take the innovative and teach them.
I had never heard about this experiment before seeing the film, but I am glad that I learned about it. I think the film really showed that as soon as an authoritative figure tells someone something, especially kids, they believe it, and will even turn against their peers because of it. The kids in the classroom were all strongly impacted by what happened to them, and that showed me that the lesson had a meaning that resonated with people of all ages. It showed me that even though everyone is always saying that prejudice is bad and discrimination is wrong, people are still able to do those things as soon as they are given the chance. I know that I will be more aware of how I perceive other people, and I will consider what they are going through and what their life is like before making any assumptions.
Karli’s comment about how children are like sponges is really true. Kids aren’t born thinking that one race is better than another, so someone or society as a whole must have taught them how to discriminate against others. The lesson was meaningful because it showed them both sides of discrimination, and therefore left a more lasting impression on the kids.
I was pretty shocked at how quickly the children and adults turned against each other just because of someone else’s differences. This movie made me realize that our environment has tried to shape our views, and it is a taught behavior, NOT something that we think of on our own. It’s up to us to stand up to people who try to make themselves feel superior to others. Whether we are part of the group that is being discriminated against, or we are on the side that is taught that we are superior to others, the only way we can change their views is showing them that all people were created to be treated equally.
Molly Burke was right in saying that teaching kids at an earlier age about discrimination would be easier than teaching adults because they are more impressionable. Also, by starting to teach them this lesson at an early age it can help stop discrimination in its track from spiralling farther out of control.
I thought that this film was really interesting. What intrigued me me the most was the fact that the test scores of the kids were so drastically different depending on their status in the class. I never really understood how influential authoritative figures and a crowd can be. It sounded so silly that the kids were better or worse due to their eye color, yet kids and even adults were tricked into believing it. I agree with Molly that it was very interesting how kids were influenced so easily by other people and their opinions. I now am looking at the way that I treat people with more scrutiny and have noticed racist and discriminative behaviors in the environments around me.
I enjoyed watching this film and I thought it was an interesting way to attack the issue of discrimination. Talking to kids about discrimination at an early age, like Mrs. Elliot did, will make them believe that we are all equa, which we are. Changing racist views is harder when one is older so starting off with children will change society.
I agree with Alyssa about how shocking it was to see the third grade students turn against each other because an authoratative figure said one group was better than the other.
This film was a great way to show how easily discrimination can come about. It was shocking to see how quickly not just children, but full grown adults will turn on each other.
I also agree with Jake that mrs. Elliot took a great risk doing this, but i think it was almost needed to show people how terrible discrimination is. It doesn't feel too great when you're on the receiving end of it.
I thought this video was informative and was an interesting way in showing how discrimination was back then. I thought it was interesting how she had started with her third graders because they are very young and then how she did it with adults. It showed different perspectives and how discrimination is spread.
I agree with what Amy said on how discrimination is influenced through society and it is not genetics. Like in the film the children had known about discrimination , but when in a classroom they formed and believed what Mrs Elliot was saying.
The most shocking part of this film was how a child’s mind can be changed so easily. One second a blue eyed boy and a brown eyed boy were best friends but the next they were enemies. And because of this is people start preaching the correct thing to children as soon as they understand what it’s about they should because once someone gets older and they have not been taught the right way it will be harder to change them then and society will still be racist.
I agree with what Karli said with this should be done in every school because of how if they feel powerless. With just this little exercise they will not even think of discriminating against others for being different and this will be better than just saying racism is wrong because if someone feels why it is wrong it gets the message across better than hearing why it’s wrong.
I have to give Mrs. Elliot a lot credit considering what she did could have really brought a great deal of negative attention to her by the children's parents.
In terms of the study I found it surprising how fast she was able to simulate discrimination in her third grade class and how willing each child was to discriminate against a person that was their friend just the other day. Even though to some people this exercise may have been a little unsavory I believe that it was necessary for the children to be taught what it feels like to be discriminated against, even if it's just for a short period of time, because theoretically they should grow up being more accepting of people of different races, creeds, or cultures.
Although I do not believe that one can truly feel what it's like to be discriminated against on the level that African Americans were discriminated against I do believe that it was a valuable lesson to expose children's prejudices and hopefully correct them for the coexistence of future generations.
What I personally took away from the film was that racism and segregation are not a specific action, but a whole state of mind. The workers that came to the workshop were not in the state of mind of thinking that blue eyed people were inferior to brown eyed people; it is the workshop that established the dividing line between them. What affected me the most was when the blue eyed workers tried to stand up for themselves, they were not supported by their own, yet knocked down and told they were wrong but the “superior”. Several of the workers described this as feeling “powerless”, when no matter how right you are, you are still wrong due to your insignificance as a person. This truly instilled in me what could probably be a small portion, compared to what African Americans suffered and had the strength to overcome, throughout American history.
I found this video very interesting. I am also taking the Preschool course this semester and we're studying the different methods that children learn. I personally was able to connect this film with what we've been learning in class, because it's a perfect example. It shows how children learn best through experience. These children had the chance to be a part of an experiment and were so greatly changed by it that it has affected their futures. Very interesting.
I completely agree. I don't think it would ever be possible to re-create the intense segregation and extreme cruelty that African Americans had to face. But at the same time it was still a beneficial experience for them because so many times we're afraid of "hurting someones feelings" when in reality maybe that's exactly what they need in order to better understand what someone else is going through.
I think that this movie was eye opening in the sense that it shows that discrimination can be both taught and untaught. Through the lesson I think that Mrs. Elliot did both, by having the students be superior one day and inferior the next the children got to see how both sides of discrimination felt. From now on the kids know what it feels like to be discriminated against so now they will most likely not be discriminatiory towards other people, whether it is about race, gender, ethnicity and or even eye color.
I also agree with Alyssa to see just how fast the third graders went from friends to enemies. I think that it was also astonishing to see the little boy realize that hitting his friend did not make him feel better and overall realize that violence does nothing to help a situation
This film proved to me that racism exists due to superior beliefs and how society is taught to view race. Racism is something that is taught, not inherited and I think that the exercise that Mrs. Elliot taught was highly beneficial. I think that the age of Mrs. Elliot's students was the perfect age to practice this exercise because they have not yet been taught about racism or learned segregation.
I agree with Emily that the kids are now less likely to discriminate because of Mrs. Elliot's lesson. Now that they have felt how is feels to both discriminate and be discriminated against, i believe that they are less likely to discriminate against other people.
I agree with Karli how children are like sponges; they absorb information, racial views, and mindsets from the environment they live in. Society, parents, friends, and personal experiences all contribute to ones racist views and it is evident through the film that it is taught now natural tendency.
I think that this movie shows the importance of experiencing both sides of a situation. When the exercise was used on adults, their opinions and prejudices were, for the most part, already determined and I do not think they could have been swayed at that point to change their point of views, so the point of the exercise was not to try to change their view of minorities. I think the purpose was to make it harder for them to publicly act upon those views by discriminating against others. Like pepper spray training with police, they would be less likely to put down someone for some characteristic they have because they understand what it feels like to have that happen to them.
I agree with Jake in that Mrs. Elliot was very courageous in carrying out this exercise. She disregarded how she would be treated by others in town so that she could make this children better people. I was inspired by how much she invested into changing the points of view of 20 third graders.
I thought the film was a very good example of how everyone is equal and those, who make fun of others, would not like it if they are treated in the same manner. I thought this technique was very effective and should be used in every school. By nature, what children are taught in their early years of school, that lesson is engraved into their mind.
29 comments:
This flim truly showed the origin of one's racist beliefs because it demonstrated that segretgation and racism is often based upon society's influence on an individual, rather than genetic inheriting ideas. The children who were once friends in the third grade class suddenly disassociated themselves with those who were different. The students became angry that they lost priviledges that they once had and were put in the shoes of black people and minorities who are often discriminated against. The movie was very valuable to see how even young children have prejudices.
I believe Mrs. Elliot took a great risk and was very courageous for using this lesson to teach her third graders about segregation. The words that the children used to define non-white people was shocking to me because it seemed second nature for them to use those words when in society today, it would be highly frowned upon. She demonstrated her strong will and desire to teach children about segregation using this lesson tactic even though it was against public opinion. It was interesting to see how these innocent children turned so viciously against each other to the point where one kid had punched another. I feel like this lesson from Mrs. Elliot was very effective in teaching children about segregation and taught them that we are all one race together: the human race.
I agree with Amy when she states that segregation and racism is based on society's influence rather than inheriting ideas. The society and the media have a lot of influence on people, even today. This movie was very effective in teaching viewers about segregation and getting an insight on being in the shoes of black people
I agree with Jake that Mrs. Elliot was very courageous based on her actions; she made a large difference in the lives of the students she teached and those who came in contact with the students later on and kept on teaching her views even when the rest of town did not want to draw attention to themselves.
I found it amazing how the children started out using derogatory terms to describe black americans, simply because that was what they were taught in the past. I learned that children can quickly be changed to believe there is a new way to discriminate against others simply by having an authoritative person teach them in that manner. Racism is learned, and there is no physical divide between human beings. I learned that the only true way to target racism and discrimination is to target the younger generations, who are more easily impressionable, and from them, the nation as a whole can change.
After watching this film, it really locked in the idea of how children’s minds are like sponges and how influenced one can be by the society that surrounds them. Mrs. Elliot demonstrated segregation with her third class. It was shocking how quickly and viciously the kids turned against their friends, just because they were told they were different. It gave the kids a sense of being powerless and anger do to lost privileges and lack of confidence when asked to complete tasks. This was also seen in the workshop done by Mrs. Elliot years later teaching adults of their prejudices ways. I believe that Mrs. Elliot’s lesson about segregation should be taught more in schools because of the effectiveness it had on the children and the adults.
I agree with Molly that the nation as a whole can change by targeting the younger generations. Racism is not an inherited trait; it is based on society’s influence on a person. Based on this, segregation and racism can be changed and eliminated for the future, but it all starts with an authoritative person needs to take the innovative and teach them.
I had never heard about this experiment before seeing the film, but I am glad that I learned about it. I think the film really showed that as soon as an authoritative figure tells someone something, especially kids, they believe it, and will even turn against their peers because of it. The kids in the classroom were all strongly impacted by what happened to them, and that showed me that the lesson had a meaning that resonated with people of all ages. It showed me that even though everyone is always saying that prejudice is bad and discrimination is wrong, people are still able to do those things as soon as they are given the chance. I know that I will be more aware of how I perceive other people, and I will consider what they are going through and what their life is like before making any assumptions.
Karli’s comment about how children are like sponges is really true. Kids aren’t born thinking that one race is better than another, so someone or society as a whole must have taught them how to discriminate against others. The lesson was meaningful because it showed them both sides of discrimination, and therefore left a more lasting impression on the kids.
I was pretty shocked at how quickly the children and adults turned against each other just because of someone else’s differences. This movie made me realize that our environment has tried to shape our views, and it is a taught behavior, NOT something that we think of on our own. It’s up to us to stand up to people who try to make themselves feel superior to others. Whether we are part of the group that is being discriminated against, or we are on the side that is taught that we are superior to others, the only way we can change their views is showing them that all people were created to be treated equally.
Molly Burke was right in saying that teaching kids at an earlier age about discrimination would be easier than teaching adults because they are more impressionable. Also, by starting to teach them this lesson at an early age it can help stop discrimination in its track from spiralling farther out of control.
I thought that this film was really interesting. What intrigued me me the most was the fact that the test scores of the kids were so drastically different depending on their status in the class. I never really understood how influential authoritative figures and a crowd can be. It sounded so silly that the kids were better or worse due to their eye color, yet kids and even adults were tricked into believing it. I agree with Molly that it was very interesting how kids were influenced so easily by other people and their opinions. I now am looking at the way that I treat people with more scrutiny and have noticed racist and discriminative behaviors in the environments around me.
I enjoyed watching this film and I thought it was an interesting way to attack the issue of discrimination. Talking to kids about discrimination at an early age, like Mrs. Elliot did, will make them believe that we are all equa, which we are. Changing racist views is harder when one is older so starting off with children will change society.
I agree with Alyssa about how shocking it was to see the third grade students turn against each other because an authoratative figure said one group was better than the other.
This film was a great way to show how easily discrimination can come about. It was shocking to see how quickly not just children, but full grown adults will turn on each other.
I also agree with Jake that mrs. Elliot took a great risk doing this, but i think it was almost needed to show people how terrible discrimination is. It doesn't feel too great when you're on the receiving end of it.
I thought this video was informative and was an interesting way in showing how discrimination was back
then. I thought it was interesting how she had started with her third graders because they are very young and then
how she did it with adults. It showed different perspectives and how discrimination is spread.
I agree with what Amy said on how discrimination is influenced through society and it is not genetics. Like in the film the children had known about discrimination , but when in a classroom they formed and believed what Mrs Elliot was saying.
The most shocking part of this film was how a child’s mind can be changed so easily. One second a blue eyed boy and a brown eyed boy were best friends but the next they were enemies. And because of this is people start preaching the correct thing to children as soon as they understand what it’s about they should because once someone gets older and they have not been taught the right way it will be harder to change them then and society will still be racist.
I agree with what Karli said with this should be done in every school because of how if they feel powerless. With just this little exercise they will not even think of discriminating against others for being different and this will be better than just saying racism is wrong because if someone feels why it is wrong it gets the message across better than hearing why it’s wrong.
I have to give Mrs. Elliot a lot credit considering what she did could have really brought a great deal of negative attention to her by the children's parents.
In terms of the study I found it surprising how fast she was able to simulate discrimination in her third grade class and how willing each child was to discriminate against a person that was their friend just the other day. Even though to some people this exercise may have been a little unsavory I believe that it was necessary for the children to be taught what it feels like to be discriminated against, even if it's just for a short period of time, because theoretically they should grow up being more accepting of people of different races, creeds, or cultures.
In response to Amy's post...
Although I do not believe that one can truly feel what it's like to be discriminated against on the level that African Americans were discriminated against I do believe that it was a valuable lesson to expose children's prejudices and hopefully correct them for the coexistence of future generations.
What I personally took away from the film was that racism and segregation are not a specific action, but a whole state of mind. The workers that came to the workshop were not in the state of mind of thinking that blue eyed people were inferior to brown eyed people; it is the workshop that established the dividing line between them. What affected me the most was when the blue eyed workers tried to stand up for themselves, they were not supported by their own, yet knocked down and told they were wrong but the “superior”. Several of the workers described this as feeling “powerless”, when no matter how right you are, you are still wrong due to your insignificance as a person. This truly instilled in me what could probably be a small portion, compared to what African Americans suffered and had the strength to overcome, throughout American history.
I found this video very interesting. I am also taking the Preschool course this semester and we're studying the different methods that children learn. I personally was able to connect this film with what we've been learning in class, because it's a perfect example. It shows how children learn best through experience. These children had the chance to be a part of an experiment and were so greatly changed by it that it has affected their futures. Very interesting.
In response to Ben Fowle
I completely agree. I don't think it would ever be possible to re-create the intense segregation and extreme cruelty that African Americans had to face. But at the same time it was still a beneficial experience for them because so many times we're afraid of "hurting someones feelings" when in reality maybe that's exactly what they need in order to better understand what someone else is going through.
I think that this movie was eye opening in the sense that it shows that discrimination can be both taught and untaught. Through the lesson I think that Mrs. Elliot did both, by having the students be superior one day and inferior the next the children got to see how both sides of discrimination felt. From now on the kids know what it feels like to be discriminated against so now they will most likely not be discriminatiory towards other people, whether it is about race, gender, ethnicity and or even eye color.
I also agree with Alyssa to see just how fast the third graders went from friends to enemies. I think that it was also astonishing to see the little boy realize that hitting his friend did not make him feel better and overall realize that violence does nothing to help a situation
This film proved to me that racism exists due to superior beliefs and how society is taught to view race. Racism is something that is taught, not inherited and I think that the exercise that Mrs. Elliot taught was highly beneficial. I think that the age of Mrs. Elliot's students was the perfect age to practice this exercise because they have not yet been taught about racism or learned segregation.
I agree with Emily that the kids are now less likely to discriminate because of Mrs. Elliot's lesson. Now that they have felt how is feels to both discriminate and be discriminated against, i believe that they are less likely to discriminate against other people.
I agree with Karli how children are like sponges; they absorb information, racial views, and mindsets from the environment they live in. Society, parents, friends, and personal experiences all contribute to ones racist views and it is evident through the film that it is taught now natural tendency.
I think that this movie shows the importance of experiencing both sides of a situation. When the exercise was used on adults, their opinions and prejudices were, for the most part, already determined and I do not think they could have been swayed at that point to change their point of views, so the point of the exercise was not to try to change their view of minorities. I think the purpose was to make it harder for them to publicly act upon those views by discriminating against others. Like pepper spray training with police, they would be less likely to put down someone for some characteristic they have because they understand what it feels like to have that happen to them.
I agree with Jake in that Mrs. Elliot was very courageous in carrying out this exercise. She disregarded how she would be treated by others in town so that she could make this children better people. I was inspired by how much she invested into changing the points of view of 20 third graders.
I thought the film was a very good example of how everyone is equal and those, who make fun of others, would not like it if they are treated in the same manner. I thought this technique was very effective and should be used in every school. By nature, what children are taught in their early years of school, that lesson is engraved into their mind.
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