Running Head: A CLASS DIVIDED 1

A Class Divided

Isaac Boothe

Rowan Cabarrus Community College

April 18, 2020

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A Class Divided

Jane Elliot’s brown-eyed blue-eyed experiment displayed many factors known to

contribute to prejudice. An authority figure instilling prejudice views into children is a major

factor that contributes to prejudice. Mrs. Elliot straight up told her class that blue-eyed people are

better than brown-eyed people. Children are easily persuaded and convinced, especially when an

authority is speaking. Another factor contributing to the prejudiced views among the class was

stereotyping. After the teacher explained that blue-eyed kids are better than brown-eyed kids, the

blue-eyed kids began to believe that no brown-eyed kid is smart, which is a huge stereotype.

They also began to believe that brown-eyed kids are dishonest and should go second in line at

lunch, since they might take too much food. 

While Prejudice and discrimination show similarities that are evident within each other,

they are in fact different. Prejudice means having preconceived opinions about a certain

individual or group, which can be positive, but in most cases it’s negative. “People who harbor

stereotypes and blame scapegoats are more likely to feel prejudice, hostile or negative attitudes

towards individuals or groups” (Licht, Hull, & Ballantyne, 2016, p. 582). While prejudice deals

with personal attitudes and opinions, discrimination refers to actual behaviors directed against a

group of people. “Discrimination is showing favoritism or hostility to others because of their

group affiliation” (Licht et al, 2016, p. 581). One who discriminates believes a certain group

does not deserve the same treatment as them; they act as if they are superior. While you can be

prejudiced and not discriminate, it is impossible to discriminate without being prejudiced.

Conformity among the children in the class also contributed to the group behavior. When

a person seeks approval from their peers, they tend to conform to the same beliefs and attitudes
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(Licht et al, 2016, p. 582). Once the teacher told the blue-eyed kids they were superior to the

brown-eyed kids, some began to act like they knew they were better, which caused the rest of the

blue-eyed kids to conform and reinstate the prejudice view that was already established. Another

contributing factor to the group behavior among the class was group polarization, which is the

tendency for a group to take a more extreme stance after deliberation and discussion (Licht et al,

2016, p. 577). When the blue-eyed kids heard their own opinions echoed by their classmates,

their nasty prejudiced views became even more extensive.

Prejudiced attitudes could easily be reduced if parents or authority figures would teach

kids that all people are equal and should be treated as so. Adults have the ability to influence and

shape a child’s attitude, so simply teaching them how to act and treat people is a solution.

Prejudiced attitudes could also be minimized if individuals didn’t seek approval from others.

Humans want to feel accepted and belong, and in order for this they will conform to whatever

beliefs their peers hold. Learning to think for yourself and doing what is right regardless if it’s

the popular thing to do or not would help the effort to eliminate prejudiced views.

I believe that Jane Elliot’s experiment was indeed a success. She simplified what

discrimination is to the kids by allowing them to see what it’s like up close and feel what it’s like

to be discriminated against. The kids explained that when they were the ones being discriminated

against, they felt “like a dog on a leash, or like you’re chained up in prison”. The kids learned

that it’s wrong to judge someone by the color of their skin, making this experiment successful.

 Personally, I feel like Jane Elliot’s experiment on her third-grade class was a brilliant

idea. While racism is a very sensitive subject to teach to young kids, she allowed them to

experience it first hand while still in the comforts of their own classroom. Before watching the

video, I thought the experiment was going to be a destructive mess since the kids are so young
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and allowing them to be mean to their classmates would only cause problems. After watching the

experiment, I realized that there was no better way to teach the kids than showing them exactly

how it feels. These young third graders understood afterward that it doesn’t matter if a person is

different, that everyone should be treated equally. I am a big fan of this experiment and I believe

Jane Elliot should be recognized as a hero for her ability to teach these kids a huge lesson on

discrimination.
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References

Licht, D., Hull, M., & Ballantyne, C. (2016). Presenting psychology. New York, NY:

Worth Publishers.

Peters, W. (Director & Producer). (1985). Frontline: A class

divided. [Documentary]. Yale University Films.