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When ‘Deshawn’ And ‘Greg’ Act Out In Class, Guess Who Gets Branded A Troublemaker

DESCRIPTION

It is well known that there are disparities found in the discipline of students of differing ethnic and racial differences in public schools.  The authors, Okonofua and Eberhart performed two simple experiments that examined stereotype and bias among teachers.  In the experiments, teachers were presented with the same scenario of either a student named “Greg” or a student named “Deshawn.”  The teachers were then asked about disciplining the students.  When the scenario indicated a first offense, there was no difference in the disciplinary outcome.  However, when the scenario indicated a second office, the discipline was more severe for the student named Deshawn.  The authors discuss bias, stereotype, education, and discipline.

SOURCE and LINK TO RESOURCE

Huffington Post, April 17, 2015, Post by Macrina Cooper-White

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/17/black-students-troublemakers_n_7078634.html?ir=Science&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

(shortened URL)   http://tinyurl.com/om4yj35

Original source:

Okonofua, J.A, & Eberhardt, J.L., 2015 (April), Two Strikes: Race and the Disciplining of Young Students, Psychological Science. pii: 0956797615570365.

http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/04/08/0956797615570365.abstract

(shortened url)   http://tinyurl.com/ous2dyc

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Begin with a discussion of:  what is prejudice?  How does it form?
•Is prejudice different than bias?
•How is prejudice understood as an attitude vs a behavior?
•What is a stereotype?  What’s in a name? (really)
•What can be done to change patterns of discipline?  (focus on both the internal attitude and the external behavioral interventions)

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