Unifying the class in a class divided
By Chris Barone
EDI 15A Psychological Perspective: Teaching & Learning
EDI 17 Psychology & Development of Adolescent Students
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 1, 2009
A Class Divided was a powerful film about a third-grade teacher showing her students what it’s like to be discriminated against. The message was clear and effective. It does not surprise me that many of the students grew up to say that the lesson changed their lives. The lesson could be taught to students both at elementary and secondary levels today and still be just as powerful and effective.
As a future secondary education teacher, I will strive to be like that teacher, Mrs. Elliot. In discriminating against brown-eyed children one day and blue-eyed children the next, she ended up actually unifying the class -- one half at a time. The class was brought together by their experiences as low-class members in this caste society. This, I believe, was crucial in putting an end to discrimination; if they all feel as one, there is no need to discriminate against ‘the other.’ There is no other. They are one group, one class, one race -- the human race.
I will absolutely consider using this lesson in my own class. There may be a few moderations, as students at the secondary levels learn quite differently than those at the elementary levels. If students can take it seriously and really let themselves experience what it is like to be marginalized based on their appearance, Mrs. Elliot’s lesson will be an invaluable tool in fighting racism in America.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 1, 2009
A Class Divided was a powerful film about a third-grade teacher showing her students what it’s like to be discriminated against. The message was clear and effective. It does not surprise me that many of the students grew up to say that the lesson changed their lives. The lesson could be taught to students both at elementary and secondary levels today and still be just as powerful and effective.
As a future secondary education teacher, I will strive to be like that teacher, Mrs. Elliot. In discriminating against brown-eyed children one day and blue-eyed children the next, she ended up actually unifying the class -- one half at a time. The class was brought together by their experiences as low-class members in this caste society. This, I believe, was crucial in putting an end to discrimination; if they all feel as one, there is no need to discriminate against ‘the other.’ There is no other. They are one group, one class, one race -- the human race.
I will absolutely consider using this lesson in my own class. There may be a few moderations, as students at the secondary levels learn quite differently than those at the elementary levels. If students can take it seriously and really let themselves experience what it is like to be marginalized based on their appearance, Mrs. Elliot’s lesson will be an invaluable tool in fighting racism in America.
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