A Class Divided
Synopsis
Eleven former students of Jane Elliott return to Riceville, Iowa, to reflect on their experiences from a controversial classroom exercise on discrimination.
Synopsis
Jane Elliott stands before her third-grade class in Riceville, Iowa, in 1968, as she initiates the "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise to teach her students about discrimination. She divides the children based on eye color, giving preferential treatment to one group while subjecting the other to unfair treatment. In 2023, Elliott reunites with eleven former students, now adults, to reflect on their experiences during the exercise. The documentary combines original footage with their insights, revealing the lasting effects of Elliott's lesson on their views of prejudice and equality.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See how Jane Elliott's lesson changed her students' lives.
- Meet former students reflecting on their unique classroom experience.
- Find out the lasting impact of Elliott's discrimination exercise.
Did You Know
- Jane Elliott began her discrimination exercise in 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
- The documentary features a reunion of 50 former students from Elliott's class.
- Elliott's exercise led students to feel like family, with many stating they are 'kind of like a family now.'
- The original exercise was filmed by ABC News for a documentary titled 'The Eye of the Storm.'
Perfect For
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the third-grade teacher that conducted the experiment on discrimination?
The third-grade teacher was Jane Elliott.
What event prompted Jane Elliott to conduct her experiment on racism?
The assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. prompted Jane Elliott to conduct her experiment.
What was the name of the documentary that filmed Jane Elliott's exercise in 1970?
The documentary that filmed Jane Elliott's exercise was called 'The Eye of the Storm'.
What are people saying?
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