A Class Divided: Jane Elliott's Experiment

A Class Divided

• Jane Elliott, a third-grade teacher in Riceville, Iowa, faced the challenge of explaining Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination to her students.
• Elliott chose to directly address racism, not just discuss it.
• In April 1968, after King's assassination, she created "A Class Divided," a powerful experiment.
• ABC News documented the experiment in "The Eye of the Storm" (1970).

Experiment Begins

• Elliott divided her class into blue-eyed and brown-eyed groups.
• Blue-eyed students were designated as the "superior" group, enjoying privileges like extra recess, access to the drinking fountain, and eating first.
• Brown-eyed students were the "inferior" group, wearing collars, having limited access to the drinking fountain, and denied extra recess.
• The experiment surprisingly showed how "superior" students exhibited greater confidence and became more dismissive of the "inferior" group.

Impact on Students

• Many students, especially brown-eyed ones, experienced exclusion and feelings of inferiority.
• Academic performance suffered for those treated as "inferior," leading to isolation and sadness.
• The experiment powerfully demonstrated how easily children internalize prejudice and discrimination.

Reclaiming Equality

• After a day, Elliott revealed the experiment was a simulated demonstration of discrimination.
• The students understood that eye colour did not inherently imply superiority or inferiority.
• Reflection on the experience highlighted the impact of the experiment on the classroom climate.
• Elliott emphasized the experiment's focus on discrimination, not simply fair treatment. She explained how easy it is to discriminate against those different from us, and how detrimental such behavior can be.

The Legacy of "A Class Divided"

• Elliott continues to teach about discrimination over four decades.
• The experiment and the documentary are viewed as pivotal moments in the social justice movement.
• This impactful demonstration is used worldwide to teach about the dangers of prejudice and discrimination.
• The experiment remains relevant, reminding us to challenge discrimination and seek a just society.