High School Teacher Taught His Class A Simple Yet Powerful Lesson About Privilege
If you’re reading this, you’re probably enjoying quite a few privileges that you may not even be aware of. You may even take what you have for granted: such is the nature of privilege.
It can be a hard thing to understand, even for adults. But one high school teacher found a wonderfully simple way to explain it so that all of his students got the message. Don’t miss this brilliant lesson!
More info: buzzfeed (via: boredpanda.es)
One high school teacher decided to teach his class about privilege, so he made a simple exercise. First, all the students received a piece of paper and crumpled it into a ball
Then, the recycling bin was placed in front of the classroom
“You represent the country’s population, and everyone has the chance to become wealthy and reach the upper class”
“All you must do is throw your paper balls into the bin while sitting in your seats”
Of course, students in the back of the room had it worse than the ones in front, and complained about this unfairness
Everyone threw their ball and many (not all) students in the front made it, and only a few in the back made it, as expected
“The closer you were to the recycling bin, the better your odds: this is privilege. Did you notice how the only ones who complained were in the back of the room?”
“But people in front of room were less likely to be aware of their privilege. They only saw 10 feet between them and their goal”
“You are students receiving an education, and your job is to be aware of your privilege. Use this privilege called ‘education’ to try to achieve great things, but also to advocate for those who are behind you.”
I think it is brilliant and a very important lesson! i will try this in my classroom, so thank you for inspiration
What if someone from the back of the room passed their paper up to the front line and trusted an individual to make it happen?
"Thank you for passing me this lovely piece of paper, but it does not have a picture of Benjamin Franklin on it. Please pass one that does."
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The people in the front could have passed the bin to the back rows to help those in a less privileged position.
I guess some people just have to work harder to get ahead. Success is not just about some simplistic class stunt. Its about work.
I think the message rings even more true reading all idiotic replys, back seat complainers
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I would have waited until the lesson was over, then i could get up my seat and put the paper in the basket. Not breaking the rules ;)
What a wonderful lesson and a wonderful way to teach the lesson. That is an awesome teacher!
I think it's smart and wonderful way. Yeah..thanks for the sharing.
Madarchod the bastard that you are. a few sheets of paper are nothing compared to the understanding being imparted.
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This of course misses the point that those students (if they are like most) got to choose their seats on the first day of class. You might then say that those up front had the work ethic to succeed. Although there probably was at least one "privileged" student up front... that would be the one that came in last that first day, and was left with the only open seat left, at the front of the class.
And let's examine the socialist version of this game. The target remains in the same place, and everyone gets to shoot from a single line near the front of the class. Of course, the target is turned upside down, so while everyone has an equal chance to "win", that chance, is in fact, ZERO.
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Someone knows who is the teacher, when and where this happenned?
The kids in the back don't have to throw from the back. They can get off their arses and walk to the front.
How did the ones at the front of the class get there in the first place?
Erm, call me crazy but isnt education a human right ? I think it is...it shouldnt be a privilege.
I say, move to the FRONT of the room. This piece inspired my radio show topic for today and was mentioned http://bit.ly/1pYXFWc
This is Indoctrination! There is no privilege life is what you earn for yourself and the choices you make it good or bad your decision.
What a load. The logical thing would be to move your chair, but liberalism, like this teacher say you must remain at the back of the class.
This assumes that rules in society say you can't move from your place to take a shot. Reality doesn't make that rule.
Except title 9, etc. takes those students in the back and moves them next to the can whilst shaming the front about their privelage.
And even after knowing the example was going to be repeated many students chose to sit in the back of the class. Think about that for a bit.
I really appreciate this. Its a wonderful way to understand that some people are born with the privilege of front row seats, others are not
The activity presented really gives me an urge to start this kind of activity in my school.Great job indeed.
What happens when one group INTENTIONALLY moves to the back (Keepin' it real, Yo!) and demands we work twice as hard, and send them money?
Then the ones at the back rioted and the headmaster passed them and said sorry then the teacher was sacked
put your chair as close as possible to the bin then throw the paper
This is fabulous. Thank you for such a thoughtful and easy-to-replicate lesson for students of all ages.
It appears that part of being in a privileged class involves denying that you are privileged or insisting that it shouldn't really matter.
success is nowhere near as simple. neither is privilege as much an advantage as the closer basket. wish there weren't a character limit.
If you had to throw the paper from your seat, just move your seat closer. #Educated
Walk up to bin, bring it to our desk, drop crumpled paper into it. Pass it to your neighbor.
Privilege is not a right it's a gift. If squandered or taken for granted, you risk causing pain to yourself and others. Clever way to see it
Very clever, not understanding privilege is likely to lead folks into squandering it before they've had a chance to benefit from it! Bravo!
White people NEED to leave or accept that their time of tyrany over us REAL americans is over. I feel for you black people, I am jewish!
White people realy need to learn or LEAVE this society; their hate only brings intolerance and pain to our nation. They are racist by nature
I would have organized to have the kid who was on the basketball team throw everyone's in and would simply get a bigger cut.
Success is about hard work and perseverance not some liberal, stunt in a classroom.
Lesson, not stunt. Many people are visual learners and this was a simple yet effective way to illustrate the concept of privilege.
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The deal was you must make it from your desk. In essence getting out of your assigned seat would be like embezzling and calling it profit.
Like it a lot. Simple analogy to clearly state how one should act . The people in the back or on the fringes of society need to be advocate
This education has to come from college? I've learned more in the industry than I did in college. Which is why I dropped out.
I would have gotten up and walked to the bin and placed my paper in it. Privilege? Stop making excuses.
And there you sit, commenting on boredpanda.com, while you could've been walkig towards that bin. You said you'd get up. So get up.
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just as Sean implied I am stunned that some one can earn $9402 in a few weeks on the internet . Learn More Here >>>> WWW.usa-revie
who decided to put the bin in front of the class? and not at the back? or the sides? those are the same people who dictate life.
Why is the goal to be wealthy? Can't you live for something else?
Wealthy? Or just not terribly poor and discriminated against?
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because it will just make the room messy XD
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This is a great exercise. Sure the children in the back were complaining, but they CHOSE to sit there in the first place.
Perhaps the real lesson was in choice, not privilege? A lesson how much better it is to sit in front, where you are ready for opportunities
Then I think you miss the point. A minority, poor, single parent, malnourished, abused home doesn't always get the chance to sit at the fron
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I would've been the student in the front, asking if I could switch with the person that complained. Because I wouldn't care about making it.
Then why aren't you looking for ways to give your privilege away to those less fortunate right now?
Load More Replies...
I think it is brilliant and a very important lesson! i will try this in my classroom, so thank you for inspiration
What if someone from the back of the room passed their paper up to the front line and trusted an individual to make it happen?
"Thank you for passing me this lovely piece of paper, but it does not have a picture of Benjamin Franklin on it. Please pass one that does."
Load More Replies... The people in the front could have passed the bin to the back rows to help those in a less privileged position.
I guess some people just have to work harder to get ahead. Success is not just about some simplistic class stunt. Its about work.
I think the message rings even more true reading all idiotic replys, back seat complainers
Load More Replies... I would have waited until the lesson was over, then i could get up my seat and put the paper in the basket. Not breaking the rules ;)
What a wonderful lesson and a wonderful way to teach the lesson. That is an awesome teacher!
I think it's smart and wonderful way. Yeah..thanks for the sharing.
Madarchod the bastard that you are. a few sheets of paper are nothing compared to the understanding being imparted.
Load More Replies... This of course misses the point that those students (if they are like most) got to choose their seats on the first day of class. You might then say that those up front had the work ethic to succeed. Although there probably was at least one "privileged" student up front... that would be the one that came in last that first day, and was left with the only open seat left, at the front of the class.
And let's examine the socialist version of this game. The target remains in the same place, and everyone gets to shoot from a single line near the front of the class. Of course, the target is turned upside down, so while everyone has an equal chance to "win", that chance, is in fact, ZERO.
Load More Replies... Someone knows who is the teacher, when and where this happenned?
The kids in the back don't have to throw from the back. They can get off their arses and walk to the front.
How did the ones at the front of the class get there in the first place?
Erm, call me crazy but isnt education a human right ? I think it is...it shouldnt be a privilege.
I say, move to the FRONT of the room. This piece inspired my radio show topic for today and was mentioned http://bit.ly/1pYXFWc
This is Indoctrination! There is no privilege life is what you earn for yourself and the choices you make it good or bad your decision.
What a load. The logical thing would be to move your chair, but liberalism, like this teacher say you must remain at the back of the class.
This assumes that rules in society say you can't move from your place to take a shot. Reality doesn't make that rule.
Except title 9, etc. takes those students in the back and moves them next to the can whilst shaming the front about their privelage.
And even after knowing the example was going to be repeated many students chose to sit in the back of the class. Think about that for a bit.
I really appreciate this. Its a wonderful way to understand that some people are born with the privilege of front row seats, others are not
The activity presented really gives me an urge to start this kind of activity in my school.Great job indeed.
What happens when one group INTENTIONALLY moves to the back (Keepin' it real, Yo!) and demands we work twice as hard, and send them money?
Then the ones at the back rioted and the headmaster passed them and said sorry then the teacher was sacked
put your chair as close as possible to the bin then throw the paper
This is fabulous. Thank you for such a thoughtful and easy-to-replicate lesson for students of all ages.
It appears that part of being in a privileged class involves denying that you are privileged or insisting that it shouldn't really matter.
success is nowhere near as simple. neither is privilege as much an advantage as the closer basket. wish there weren't a character limit.
If you had to throw the paper from your seat, just move your seat closer. #Educated
Walk up to bin, bring it to our desk, drop crumpled paper into it. Pass it to your neighbor.
Privilege is not a right it's a gift. If squandered or taken for granted, you risk causing pain to yourself and others. Clever way to see it
Very clever, not understanding privilege is likely to lead folks into squandering it before they've had a chance to benefit from it! Bravo!
White people NEED to leave or accept that their time of tyrany over us REAL americans is over. I feel for you black people, I am jewish!
White people realy need to learn or LEAVE this society; their hate only brings intolerance and pain to our nation. They are racist by nature
I would have organized to have the kid who was on the basketball team throw everyone's in and would simply get a bigger cut.
Success is about hard work and perseverance not some liberal, stunt in a classroom.
Lesson, not stunt. Many people are visual learners and this was a simple yet effective way to illustrate the concept of privilege.
Load More Replies... The deal was you must make it from your desk. In essence getting out of your assigned seat would be like embezzling and calling it profit.
Like it a lot. Simple analogy to clearly state how one should act . The people in the back or on the fringes of society need to be advocate
This education has to come from college? I've learned more in the industry than I did in college. Which is why I dropped out.
I would have gotten up and walked to the bin and placed my paper in it. Privilege? Stop making excuses.
And there you sit, commenting on boredpanda.com, while you could've been walkig towards that bin. You said you'd get up. So get up.
Load More Replies... just as Sean implied I am stunned that some one can earn $9402 in a few weeks on the internet . Learn More Here >>>> WWW.usa-revie
who decided to put the bin in front of the class? and not at the back? or the sides? those are the same people who dictate life.
Why is the goal to be wealthy? Can't you live for something else?
Wealthy? Or just not terribly poor and discriminated against?
Load More Replies... because it will just make the room messy XD
Load More Replies... This is a great exercise. Sure the children in the back were complaining, but they CHOSE to sit there in the first place.
Perhaps the real lesson was in choice, not privilege? A lesson how much better it is to sit in front, where you are ready for opportunities
Then I think you miss the point. A minority, poor, single parent, malnourished, abused home doesn't always get the chance to sit at the fron
Load More Replies... I would've been the student in the front, asking if I could switch with the person that complained. Because I wouldn't care about making it.
Then why aren't you looking for ways to give your privilege away to those less fortunate right now?
Load More Replies...
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