“A Class Divided”
Who in the film determined which differences matter? Who do you think decides in real life?
How was the message about which differences matter reinforced in the film? How is this message reinforced in real life?
Why, for the most part, do you think the students went along with Elliott’s experiment?
What is the lesson Jane Elliott wanted her students to learn?
What lesson did you learn from the film?
What does Elliott’s classroom experiment suggest about what can happen when one aspect of our identities is valued more than all of the others?
While eye color may not be related to power in our society, what are aspects of identity that give some people more power and privileges than others? Who determines which differences matter? Why do individuals and groups either go along or not go along with these decisions?
How do beliefs about differences in our society shape the way we see ourselves and others? How do they shape the way others see us? How do beliefs about differences in our society shape the way we respond when we encounter an individual or group that is different from us?
What are your reactions/insights after watching the video?
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