Lecture Notes on Jane Elliott's Experiment and Racism Education

Introduction

• Background: 27 years prior, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
• Teacher's Response: Jane Elliott, a third-grade teacher in Riceville, Iowa, implemented a lesson on discrimination to teach students about racism.

Jane Elliott's Classroom Experiment

• Objective: To help children understand the impact of racism through a practical exercise.
• Method: Divided students by eye color and treated them differently to simulate discrimination.
  • Day 1: Blue-eyed children were deemed superior.
  • Day 2: Brown-eyed children were deemed superior.
• Effects: Demonstrated changes in behavior and academic performance due to perceived superiority or inferiority.

Key Outcomes of the Experiment

• Behavioral Change: Nice, cooperative children exhibited discriminatory behaviors when told they were superior.
• Empathy and Understanding: Students experienced being both discriminators and the discriminated.
• Long-term Impact: Students retained lessons on discrimination, affecting their views on race and prejudice.

Reflections from Students

• Reunion Insights: Former students discussed how the exercise affected their views on discrimination.
• Personal Growth: Many reflected on improved family dynamics and understanding of minority experiences.
• Desire for Change: Some expressed a wish for others to undergo a similar experience to understand prejudice.

Broader Impact of the Experiment

• Academic Performance: Students’ scores increased after experiencing the classroom exercise.
• Usage of the Documentary: "The Eye of the Storm" has been widely used for educating about discrimination.
• Corrections Department Workshop: Iowa Department of Corrections used Jane Elliott’s methods to teach employees about racism.

Analysis of the Workshop Experience

• Structure: Participants assigned roles based on eye color to simulate discrimination.
• Reactions: Blue-eyed participants experienced discrimination, leading to frustration and powerlessness.
• Debriefing: Participants discussed feelings of hopelessness and the insights gained about everyday discrimination.

Conclusion and Future Implications

• Necessity for Such Exercises: Elliott advocates for continued education on racism and discrimination.
• Implementation: Suggests controlled usage of such exercises with teachers and administrators.

Personal Takeaways

• Family-Like Bonding: Students felt a familial connection after experiencing the exercise together.
• Ongoing Impact: The lessons learned continue to influence students’ and participants’ views on race and discrimination.