Natasha 
🇪🇺Read it again and again. And then again ...
Evelyn Estelle@Natasha_Jay On one hand, this is a memorable teaching tool.
On the other hand, I wonder if the teacher has the integrity to just answer "yes, this is fair" if someone kicks them in the shin for it.
Dagnabbit, Pascaline! 💥I feel sad for Steven, though. Such a situation can have a profound impact, no matter how well explained. There is always the knowing others did not stand up for you. Maybe the help afterwards, including the entire class, was enough though, things may have been fine.
Insinuations are also bad, they can wreck lives. Someone casually / intentionally dropping something can be picked up. There is always someone who believes it, and harm can start with a single person.
@pascaline @Natasha_Jay Thanks. I think this is what I failed to word properly rationally when I had the urge to kick the teacher in the shin.
You're welcome.
It is a very uncomfortable situation that needs to be absolutely well prepared. The best thing would be to ask Steven if he wanted to participate in this, explaining what could happen. But the impact of realising this actually happened may be heavy to bear for a child.
Jochen Wolters@pascaline @dragonfi @Natasha_Jay Your comment is spot-on.
The story reminds me of Jane Elliott’s “Blue eyes, brown eyes” exercise, which, thankfully, has seen plenty of well-reasoned criticism by now. Even the most noble intentions don’t justify the cost of the emotional cruelty that these children might have to bear (unless the protagonist is properly briefed on, and freely agrees to, the experiment, just like you say).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Elliott#Academic_research
Thanks!
After I posted it, I remembered that as well. It's incredible that this kind of situations existed, and still exist.
If this is done, it should be absolutely safe and well thought through.
It would also be important to tell the child that they are completely free, and supported, in their decision to cooperate or not. Both choices are fine.
But still, the other children will have so many questions as well. Empathy is not learned through fear.
@pascaline @dragonfi @Natasha_Jay “Empathy is not learned through fear.” That is such a beautiful statement, Pascaline, that I’ve added it to my favorites quotes note. LOVE IT!
Oh ❤
It just bubbled up in my head and flowed into my typing fingers, thank you 😊