If a teacher did this in your childs class how would you feel?

Question

she seperated all the children by eye color with no explanations, she had all the brown eyed kids to the back, the greena nd hazel in the middle and the blue to the front, all the brown eyed kids were treated with little or no regard and when they spoke they were told to shut up and that they were basically worthless, the kids with hazel and green eyes were treated semi fair and the kids with blue eyes were treated liek queens and kings, up walking around , given treats etc. When class ended the teacher explained that she loved them all but it was Arkansas History week and wanted all the kids to feel what it was like to be segregrated she then asked them to write a paragraph on the affect it had on them. Do you think its a lesson all kids need to learn or would you be upset if your child was the one who was brown eyed?

these are 7th grade kids

i was not upset nor was my 13 year old son, he thought it was the best class he ever had, he said he didnt understand at first and kept saying to the teacher i have an "A" in this class, after she explained it she informed all the kids all week they would do different things on segregation so that each child feels what it is like. He came straight home and did his homework all week . I was wondering what the parents thought i know some parents were highly upset over it.

catz we live in a little town in arkansas there are only whites at this school , which gave it an even better effect.

Answer 1

We don't have any kids.

Just look at the segregation and separation in the answers you have, and all the thumbs, it must be a powerful lesson, huh?

Answer 2

I disagree with the fact that christian parents are pulling their children out of class. And with it being an Elementary school teacher why would it matter if the teacher is gay or straight. I think that it is none of the children's business what kind of life a teacher has outside of school. I don't think the teacher being gay would affect their qualities as a teacher, so therefore I don't think it matters. I am going to say that I disagree with the teacher having a picture of their partner on their desk. Thinking back when I was in elementary school none of the teachers had pictures of their families sitting out for others to see, and I do agree that the teacher needs to remove the picture, because again the kids should not know anything about any teachers life outside of school. So any pictures of pets, or family should be removed, just because it doesn't need to be there.

Answer 3

I would think that is the kind of lesson they will remember. As long as it was done with a purpose and the purpose was clearly explained, I see no harm in it. She DID tell the kids she loved all of them but if she'd done that up front, I think the lesson would have lost some effect. When they don't know why they were shown partiality (to teach them a lesson) they can better feel what it's like to be mistreated. Sounds like she did a good job of carrying out the plan.

Answer 4

This is an exercise often used in psych and sociology classes. I have been in several where it was used. The first time it kind of aggravated me and I led the "revolt" (where in we began our own society and quit paying attention to any one outside of it). I guess I can't stand to be ignored. It IS a good exercise in that, properly executed (and it sounds like this was) it does provide a real feeling for segregation. The reason for the elite being blue eyed is that you want your elite and semi elite to be the smaller groups, since you ARE trying to teach what it feels like to be discriminated against (it's just a genetic fact that brown eyes are a dominant gene and therefore more common) it makes sense to segregate the largest group you can. ;-) So I would be OK with this happening to my child and would ask them how they felt and what they thought and whether they wanted anyone else to feel that way...;-)

Answer 5

Spitty, I understand your concern. But a valuable lesson was taught about discrimination.

If your baby is upset by this you can give him or her further explanation about what discrimination really means and that the teacher was doing this to help explain how some people are treated mean just because of differences.

I think it is a lesson we all need to learn, not just children.

EDIT: It was a lesson about living in the real world and prepares them for what they may face somewhere down the road.

EDIT: To the thumbs downers, did the color of your own eyes make a difference as to how you answered this question? Would it have made a difference if the blue eyed children we in the back of the class?

Hugs!

Answer 6

I think this was an appropriate lesson for that age. And since the teacher told them that she loves them equally,I dont think the non blue eyed kids will be affected. Its a good lesson to learn

Answer 7

I remember seeing the so called experiment on the history channel. I can't remember but I think it was done in the sixties.
Although I think children should be well aware of how it feels to segregated. I'm not sure if that's the right way to go about it. Some of the children were so hurt by this they actually were crying. I Don't feel a teacher has the right to hurt a childs feelings, even if it's only for a moment. Some of these kids will take it to heart and be hurt for a while. I think I'd be upset.

Answer 8

I would kind of slide both ways with that one. My kids are half black and though it may offend me at first, i do feel our kids need to know about racism and segregation. It may help them to better themselves in the long run. Cause this stuff is still out there. Just the other day I witness at my 10 year old school two white girls maybe the age of 8-9 wipe their muddy hands all over this black girls face and clothing, after working in the school garden. Of coarse I made a complaint. The teacher was no where to be found. They just stood there pointing and laughing at this girl. It was heart breaking. So yes, i do feel teaching about racism is a good idea. The teachers just really need to know how they go about doing it.

Answer 9

Both of my children have brown eyes.

This teacher taught her students in a very effective way. If she'd just told them to open their text books, while she scribbled on the blackboard, I doubt the effect would've been the same.

She has taught them a very valuable history lesson and it hit home, through their emotions.

These kids will always remember this lesson and look back in years to come and probably use it as a "rule of thumb." They're not scarred, so I don't see it as an issue.

Answer 10

I think she meant well by separating them by color. It's a lesson on segregation to show how you would feel if it were you. She's trying to teach them that it's okay to be different colors, that color doesn't matter in the scheme of things. It will help to make them better and more considerate of others, to teach them that you don't need to be prejudice against any other type of people. But if it continues, then I'd have to take action against her.