Wednesday, October 12, 2016

S1 - A Class Divided

Go to: A Class Divided and watch the video. Comment on the following questions:


  1. Was the "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" experiment/activity conducted in an ethical manner?
  2. Could/should the "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" lesson/activity be done in today's classrooms?

19 comments:

  1. 1. I believe that the "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" experiment was not conducted in an ethical manner because of the negative impact it had on the kids and adults. I do agree the lesson learned from this experiment was beneficial to the students and may help the students and adults in the future from discriminating against others, but regardless of what others say , this experiment was not fair to the participants it is a form of bullying and even if the aim of it was to educate and somewhat have participants experience discrimination, it seems a bit tortuous because it was as if the experiment was 'you are all racist, now you have go through racism'. Also the students in the grade 3 class may of felt as if their eye color was something to be ashamed of as a young person of color may feel ashamed of their skin color, but that does not necessarily mean that the kids had to feel bad about an aspect about theirselves even if it is to teach them a lesson.

    2. I do think a lesson of the experiment could be done in classrooms but not an experiment. I do understand that the point of the experiment is to feel empathy for people who are discriminated against but I personally feel that the experiment is not needed as it can cause insecurities in people and that can go against the lesson of this experiment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. I believe that the blue/brown eyed experiment was done in an ethical manner because the reason behind this experiment was to bring to light the effect of discrimination against people on people who would not experience this type of discrimination. The intention of this activity was in no way to make the other kids feel bad about themselves rather at the end of it, bring them closer.


    2. Yes, this experiment can be done in classrooms today but I don't think they should/need to be do be done, because as of recently ( 1-2 decades) we as a society have been very accepting, especially Canada as we pride ourselves as being a multicultural society. But somewhere else like in Dubai where sadly there is still discrimination this experiment should be done so people there can see the effect of discrimination on minority's whether it be race, gender or sexuality.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with your first part that the experiment was ethical. It is true that the experiment did what it was intended to which was to bring out the extent to which discrimination affects society. But one could questions if it is ethical if in order to get results others get harmed? Further more even though Canada is fairly diverse do you think that people could benifit to see how discrimination still affects the people of a diverse country such as canada? And to see how people at this day and age react to this discrimination.

      Delete
  3. I believe that the brown eyed/blue eyed experiment was done in an ethical manner at that time. It taught the students and also the adults in the film about discrimination and made them have a small taste of what discrimination truly is in real life and how it feels to be in the minority and being insulted for meaningless differences between one another. I believe that this experiment could be introduced into today’s lesson or activity in a classroom but only if the experiment is closely monitored by a third party to make sure that the experiment doesn’t result in a negative outcome. It is very easy to use this experiment to scar a child or influence the beliefs they hold in a completely opposite direction than that was shown in the film. For that reason I believe it shouldn’t be used and that we find another method for showing discrimination so that one day the lessons of this experiment is understood by all and there would be no need to show this experiment about discrimination any longer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In your first sentence, you said "done in an ethical manner at that time." Could you expand on that? Are you saying what we may consider as ethically correct now may not have been the same as what it was in the past?

      Delete
    2. Yes I do agree with that statement as now in present day we are aware of mental illnesses and the experiment that was done could have affected the children negatively whereas in the past it could be seen as being done in an ethical manner.

      Delete
  4. 1. I personally do not think the experiment was conducted in an ethical manner. I thought that the third grade teacher was a little too harsh on the kids. Although, the intention was not to cause harm, the students still felt bad about themselves when they were discriminated against. I think the teacher should have been a little bit more gentle with the responses rather than just straight up telling the children that they were not smart because of their eye colour.

    2. Although I don't believe it was conducted in an ethical manner, it was still a good lesson for the children and overall worth it. So I think it should be done in today's classrooms because it teaches a very important lesson about discrimination that everyone should be aware of. As I previously stated, it wasn't entirely ethical, therefore improvements should be made to the way it is conducted, like watching over the kids to make sure they're not being too mean to the other kids. Even though I say this experiment should be conducted, it seems that it'd be difficult to do so because it can be very concerning for the parents.

    Overall, I think this activity should be conducted maybe more ethically, and with the students' parents' consent.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Brown/Blue Eyed Experiment although used extreme methods, resulted in positive outcomes. The study used drastic methods that left a lasting impact on the students. Through the experience of discrimination they were able to truly understand what it feels like to be the minority and therefore, pass these lessons off to their children. However, should we teach children not to burn their hands on the stove by forcing each child to touch a hot stove? A child would certainly remember not to touch a hot stove. But is learning from an severe firsthand experience necessary? If a child was told to touch a very warm stove that would not burn, they would remember that the stove can get even hotter and scald them. If the experiment was conducted in a classroom, the children should be made aware the experiment. Although the results would be less disturbing, the students would certainly still feel the impacts of being treated poorly as a result of being a minority.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I believe that the blue/brown eyed experiment was not conducted in an ethical manner. Although the intention was to create an environment where the children could learn a valuable lesson about discrimination, the experiment put the children through some harsh conditions just to teach them not to discriminate. The result might have been positive but the children had to experience some extreme situations which left a lasting impact on them. When this experiment was tried with the adults, it basically mirrored the behaviour of the children, if the adults felt this bad what must the children have felt? To understand the effects of bullying doesn't necessarily mean that we have to experience bullying. I believe that if the experiment had been a bit toned-down, maybe if they knew they were going to be a part of an experiment it would have been less harsh while still providing them with a significant lesson in discrimination. I do think that even today we need to spread awareness about discrimination but I do not think that an experiment like this should or could be done in today's classrooms. However, if it is possible to conduct this experiment in a more ethical manner by asking for consent or finding ways to lessen the negative effects of this experiment, I believe it could be a great learning experience, and it could help spread awareness to everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. I believe the "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" experiment was not conducted in an ethical manner. Although the teacher had a good intention, she ended up hurting the children. The teacher seemed to be a little hard on the students, which caused them to feel bad about themselves as they were being discriminated against. The grade 3 teacher could have conducted the experiment in a more kinder way. However, through this experiment the students learned the effects discrimination has on people.

    2. The "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" experiment, I believe shouldn't be conducted in today's classroom. The reason being is because the result of experiment can end up being opposite of what was intended. The experiment may end up negatively impacting a students mind, therefore the experiment should not be conduct today. Instead another mean to teach the lesson of discrimination should be used. A good idea would be to show "a class divided" video to the class.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The brown-eye/blue-eye experiment was not conducted in an ethical manner. Although the intent was to teach kids and adults about racism, it was taken to too much of an extreme, especially with the kids. They ended up bullying one another and the teacher pitted kids, who were previously friends, against one another. The lesson that came out of it was valuable, but more fragility was required when dealing with the situation and it’s variables. One doesn’t have to put their hand in the fire to know they'll get burned. This experiment has a valuable lesson that deserves to be taught in classes today, but maybe in another form. Especially with the uprise of awareness, this experiment is not so much needed today as it was in the past. In fact, this experiment might not be even successful, because so many people believe in ensuring they have their rights.

    ReplyDelete
  9. No, I don't believe the blue-eyed brown-eyed experiment was done in an ethical manner. The experimenter herself in the video does not recommend her exercise be done on children in schools. Yes, it has noble intentions: to spread a very real awareness of discrimination, but the ends should never and cannot justify the means. This experiment ran the risk of significantly damaging its subjects, a possible damage that outweighs the non-discriminatory adults it created. Instead, as seen in the second demonstration, this experiment should be performed on adults with influence and social interaction, so as to maximize the positive results.

    ReplyDelete
  10. 1.) I do not believe that the “Brown-Eye-Blue-Eye Experiment”, was done in a ethical manner. It does not matter even what age group it is being done to neither kids nor adults. I believe this because people’s acts and words do make an impact on a person’s behaviour in a particular group. Sure it a very good lesson to be taught but it impact to be very drastic. Plus to the little grade as innocent so they will believe everything they hear and start discriminating other student and people outside of school too.
    2.) I do believe that there is a chance that the “Brown-Eye-Blue-Eye Experiment”, but only if it used to teach a lesson and a public social experiment plus not to children in elementary so 1-6 grades. Because we don’t want to have people feeling discriminated, cause you never know this experiment could backfire back onto you so someone.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The “Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed” experiment is ethical. The experiment was to teach children about discrimination in a way that they actually now what minorities go through. It left a lasting impact on the children and they even decided to teach and inform others about discrimination. The experiment also had no lasting negative impact on them. Every child gets bullied; it’s what kids do. So yes the children were mean and put against each other but it would have happened anyway.

    I really don’t see a need for this experiment in today’s society as we have progressed so much and understand discrimination. It’s so common to have friends or family that are a minority so it’s easier to put yourself in their shoes unlike when this experiment was conducted. That time period was white privilege and racist. It was commonplace to discriminate so children who had never even seen a black person in any other light based it off of adults and what they said. They couldn’t put themselves in their shoes because they didn't know there life or even a single black person.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I believe that this experiment wasn't done in an ethical manner looking it at from the perspective of our current society but when you look at it from the perspective of the society back then it can be seen as an ethical experiment. In the 2 day experiment taught the kids of the grade 3 class what discrimination was by using practical activity. The teacher divides the class between blue eyes and brown eyes. The first day she says the blue eyes are smarter and are better then the brown eyes. She also adds that they get 5 minute more for their recess and, they can get seconds during the lunch while the brown eyes can only get lunch once. The second day it was all switched around. The brown eyes were superior and the blue eyes were the discriminated group. This kinda experiment can not be done in today's world because it is seen as unethical. It can't be done because we are more aware of the mental and emotional scars that can be left on the kids.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I believe that this experiment wasn't done in an ethical manner looking it at from the perspective of our current society but when you look at it from the perspective of the society back then it can be seen as an ethical experiment. In the 2 day experiment taught the kids of the grade 3 class what discrimination was by using practical activity. The teacher divides the class between blue eyes and brown eyes. The first day she says the blue eyes are smarter and are better then the brown eyes. She also adds that they get 5 minute more for their recess and, they can get seconds during the lunch while the brown eyes can only get lunch once. The second day it was all switched around. The brown eyes were superior and the blue eyes were the discriminated group. This kinda experiment can not be done in today's world because it is seen as unethical. It can't be done because we are more aware of the mental and emotional scars that can be left on the kids.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I believe that this experiment wasn't done in an ethical manner looking it at from the perspective of our current society but when you look at it from the perspective of the society back then it can be seen as an ethical experiment. In the 2 day experiment taught the kids of the grade 3 class what discrimination was by using practical activity. The teacher divides the class between blue eyes and brown eyes. The first day she says the blue eyes are smarter and are better then the brown eyes. She also adds that they get 5 minute more for their recess and, they can get seconds during the lunch while the brown eyes can only get lunch once. The second day it was all switched around. The brown eyes were superior and the blue eyes were the discriminated group. This kinda experiment can not be done in today's world because it is seen as unethical. It can't be done because we are more aware of the mental and emotional scars that can be left on the kids.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I don't have an answer, because it's not that simple. To conduct a new experiment, lines must be crossed, boundaries tested, limits exceeded. It's the only way to advance, however there are some blockades set up for a reason. Child testing, for example. Yes, this is a lesson. Yes, this is not life threatening. Or, isn't it? The age where humans are most susceptible to the influences surrounding them is during early childhood. To subject the innocents into the cruel situation of discrimination poses a risk of damaging the child permanently. If any one aspect becomes skewed in the process, the inner workings of that child may be warped for the rest of his/her life. Jane Elliott herself, stated that this process is incredibly risky if not structured and facilitated properly. The idea is strong. It is entirely reasonable and noble to wish to design a future where discrimination is a thing of the past, however, precaution must be taken. To subject today's youth to trials of blame, superiority/inferiority complexes, the sudden shifts in "societal" acceptability, and standards creates an unstable environment for which youth to learn in. The mind is not fully developed until roughly age 22. Causing a fracture in the structure and process of the adolescent brain could lead to the improper development of the brain. Breaking today's children means breaking tomorrow's leaders, and that is not a world I want to live in. I'm not denying the existence of discrimination. It's horrible and entirely unacceptable. But, there is no reason to abolish the natural learning process of children in an attempt morph the future into something other than what it is. The documentary stated how one can be taught what it means to discriminate, yet the only way that the lesson will truly be ingrained is to experience it. As it turns out, walking a mile in someone else's shoes isn't always a pleasurable experience, but that doesn't entail that one must solely --sole-ly, haha-- strut about in the shoes of others, nor does it require one to avoid wearing shoes entirely. Living successfully as united species is to find the balance between ignorance and insanity. The problem of discrimination for various reasons shouldn't be an issue that needs to be dealt with. In fact, it shouldn't be a problem at all. Biases are formed from the mind, and not naturally. This is a societal influence that warps people's perceptions of right versus wrong. Human beings are not born hating others based on appearance, this is not innate. Discrimination being a learned trait means that there is only one way to solve this crisis: we must alter the root of the cause. Society itself is not bad, and neither is mankind, however, the current system that set in place is not compatible with an enlightening future. The norms, the expectations, the judgements, and the shaming all cause people to revolt against not only each other, but themselves as well. Discrimination doesn't give rise to unhappiness, it is the other way around. To overcome one does not mean to abolish the other, but instead to meld them together in a way that increases their malleability. As the injustices and aches of the people stick out like prongs of rebar in a pile of putty, only then will we be able to see the flaws in the system. And, only then will discrimination truly be able to be addressed and disassembled. Until that time, please don't break the children.

    ReplyDelete
  16. 1.Was the "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" experiment/activity conducted in an ethical manner?
    2.Could/should the "Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed" lesson/activity be done in today's classrooms?
    I think that the “Brown-Eyed-Blue-Eyed” activity was done in an ethical manner to a minimal extent. Because the experiment was done in a time where many people were doing crazy psychological studies, it was not stopped by anyone. The teacher that made the experiment did it carefully and made sure to debrief the children right away. It did have a positive impact on most of the kids. The things they learned in that classroom stayed with them forever. Having that said, if someone were to do this experiment today however, I think it would not be ethical because we know how people can be affected by such experiments if not done correctly. However if such a lesson had to be done today, I think the people involved in the activity should be thoroughly informed about why they are performing such a task and decide if they would like to participate. Still, I don’t think the activity is needed in today's society because most people are understanding and teach their kids to not discriminate anyway. It is less of an issue now than it was before.

    ReplyDelete