Eye of the Storm-Sociology
Eye of the Storm: A Classroom Divided
Sociology 101
April 10th, 2011
Abstract
Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, teacher Jane Elliott knew she had to do something. Riceville, Iowa, the town in which she lived, was totally homogeneous and, as a result, she realized that her students had no firsthand experience with discrimination. A Class Divided: Then and Now chronicles Elliott 's courageous experiment and the life-altering impact it had on her students. This action research study is an attempt to measure the impact of the intervention on this targeted group of students and their ability to demonstrate skills such as using self-control, avoiding trouble, and accepting consequences.
“A Class Divided” is a film that everyone should view no matter what race or ethnicity a person might be. Whether we realize it or not, everyone is prone to some form of discrimination or prejudice. Most Americans are not part of the dominant group; therefore, due to being a minority, we undergo a feeling of inferiority. This film presents us with a different view on the color of someone’s characteristics. After viewing this, a person will hopefully be less likely to focus on the differences they have with other people and see people all as equals. This topic was of great interest to me due to the fact that I witness discrimination many times a day. I know that myself, an Asian-American woman, has faced discrimination many times in my life. This film helps those who do not face prejudices in their everyday life, realize what it is like to be on the other end.
The film starts off with a reunion between the third graders who were in the film, “Eye of the Storm.” A teacher put them through an experiment in which she initially tells them that the blue eyed children are better than the brown eyed. She gives them more privileges; such as giving them more play time, and allowing them to drink out of the drinking fountain, where as the brown eyed had to drink out
Sociology 101
April 10th, 2011
Abstract
Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, teacher Jane Elliott knew she had to do something. Riceville, Iowa, the town in which she lived, was totally homogeneous and, as a result, she realized that her students had no firsthand experience with discrimination. A Class Divided: Then and Now chronicles Elliott 's courageous experiment and the life-altering impact it had on her students. This action research study is an attempt to measure the impact of the intervention on this targeted group of students and their ability to demonstrate skills such as using self-control, avoiding trouble, and accepting consequences.
“A Class Divided” is a film that everyone should view no matter what race or ethnicity a person might be. Whether we realize it or not, everyone is prone to some form of discrimination or prejudice. Most Americans are not part of the dominant group; therefore, due to being a minority, we undergo a feeling of inferiority. This film presents us with a different view on the color of someone’s characteristics. After viewing this, a person will hopefully be less likely to focus on the differences they have with other people and see people all as equals. This topic was of great interest to me due to the fact that I witness discrimination many times a day. I know that myself, an Asian-American woman, has faced discrimination many times in my life. This film helps those who do not face prejudices in their everyday life, realize what it is like to be on the other end.
The film starts off with a reunion between the third graders who were in the film, “Eye of the Storm.” A teacher put them through an experiment in which she initially tells them that the blue eyed children are better than the brown eyed. She gives them more privileges; such as giving them more play time, and allowing them to drink out of the drinking fountain, where as the brown eyed had to drink out
Bibliography: PBS (A Class Divided) Http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/view.html