Too Far?

[thetreble 19]

A racist trying to teach..well..tolerance?

[Carlawarla 1]

This is absolutely disgusting. I can think of TONS more ways to value diversity and to discuss cultural and racial issues. This is certainly not in any way, shape or form for grade 4 students!!! I'm so angry right now, I'm going to stop this post of mine!

Edited February 19, 2009 by Carlawarla

[thetreble 19]

Sorry Carla! I didn't mean to get you mad...I thought it was terrible as well putting children in that situation. There are MANY better ways to teach diversity. I hope this teacher gets fired.

[Emancipation 2]

I remember playing the dr., laywer, pregnant lady etc. in a sinking ship who gets to go in the life raft thing in Swimming lessons.. it's a dumb game choosing one life's value over another IMO, and this is an even more frightening twist!

[Sprailenes 47]

Its awful but I wish I knew who the kids picked.

[DeadPoolX 9]

This reminds me of a famous study in tolerance preformed years ago -- in the 1970s, I believe. The teacher divided the room up into two groups: those who have blue eyes and those with brown eyes.

One week, she told the kids "negative traits" about the brown eyed children. The kids with blue eyes then acted prejudicial towards the kids with brown eyes. The next week, the situation was reversed. The same outcome occurred.

After the study was completed, the teacher asked if the kids had learned anything and most of them said they did. They didn't like getting picked on or excluded for traits they had no control over.

I think that's a great way to teach kids. Just telling them about "racist" this or "sexist" that is abstract. Having them experience some of it (in a more benign way) makes the situation far more real and understandable.

[Sprailenes 47]

This reminds me of a famous study in tolerance preformed years ago -- in the 1970s, I believe. The teacher divided the room up into two groups: those who have blue eyes and those with brown eyes.

One week, she told the kids "negative traits" about the brown eyed children. The kids with blue eyes then acted prejudicial towards the kids with brown eyes. The next week, the situation was reversed. The same outcome occurred.

After the study was completed, the teacher asked if the kids had learned anything and most of them said they did. They didn't like getting picked on or excluded for traits they had no control over.

I think that's a great way to teach kids. Just telling them about "racist" this or "sexist" that is abstract. Having them experience some of it (in a more benign way) makes the situation far more real and understandable.

The Jane Elliott exercise.

I have done this as a part of one of my classes in colleges, and my mom did this in university. Its very interesting and it does teach people.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

This is quite a common anti-racist exercise, and similar examples are not meant to be fuzzy and lovey --- reality is not.

Although it was poorly applied (not age adequate) and certainly without enough background teaching it looses any pedagogical value. It is similar to "blue eyes brown eyes".

[Reeena 0]

Aww... my PC at work wont display the article...