I have seen this many times. It always reminds me of those who without saying it hold these biases. 6-7 years ago, I was accused of not liking white people. As a person of mostly white European ancestry, I was so confused. I must have been saying something to alienate them or make them uncomfortable. It did not change my teaching, but it is interesting how whatever I was saying led to that. I do not shy away from teaching all the parts of history so perhaps that was it. As an English teacher, I have a freedom to go to the literature and find the facts. I think it is important to push boundaries, push students out of comfort zones. We cannot grow if we brush aside discomfort. Face it head on. Be bold. Be brave. Be better!
I wish I had a teacher like Mrs. Elliot and I wish my own kids had a teacher like Mrs. Elliot growing up. I wonder if all of the parents were on board with this exercise. I wonder if todays parents would be ok with this exercise.
I had the same thought as I started watching the video. I think now there are tough teachers as well but so often they are not welcomed, as I think this teacher wasn't back in the day. I hope parents today would be okay with this but I can sadly say that I am not so sure they would. Very often people can accept/condemn from the past more easily than look into the present days. I think it is maybe human but also it is related to the fact that it is much easier to accept the risk of a situation as it is than to risk radical actions to promote change, even where the second risk might be much lighter than the first
I know that when I have had these conversations, I have never asked permission. I have received emails, but they have all been positive. This experiment is definitely different and revolutionary for when it occurred. I would venture to guess that they were not informed because then it would have skewed results, but I could be wrong. In today's world parents are way more vocal about experiments like this because of hurt feelings, but the conversations are definitely needed.