JAPAN PRIZE 2007 Program Details

The Grand Prix Japan Prize
Program Title:A Lesson In Discrimination
Organization:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Societe Radio-Canada (CBC Radio-Canada)
Country:Canada
Winner of The Governor of Tokyo Prize
Content
A teacher in an elementary school in Canada conducts an experiment that intends to make pupils experience discrimination. This documentary includes recordings of the class and interviews with the teacher.
One day, the teacher tells the pupils that science books say short people are more intelligent, more creative, and quicker than tall people. She divides the class in half according to who is over or under 1.34 meters and puts tall children in red pinnies. The lesson proceeds on that premise. The teacher makes harsh comments about tall children. W hen a tall boy tries to solve a problem on the blackboard, he is told his writing is not neat because he is tall. Shorter children are even given privileges: they are allowed to leave the classroom five minutes before recess as well as use carpets to slide down a snowy hill. The purpose of this lesson is to teach children how discrimination feels, but the teacher regrets that she was not able to see certain expected effects in the children when she had them switch roles the next day.
The teacher was inspired by a TV program broadcast in 1970, in which an American teacher tells her pupils that those who have blue eyes are superior to those with brown eyes in order to teach them what discrimination really means. This experimental lesson was televised and created a sensation. The 2007 program explains that the American program inspired the teacher and she obtained permission from parents of the children, the school board, and the school principal to conduct the lesson.
Three weeks after the two-day lesson, she says this kind of experience will help reduce discrimination as it will remain deep in the children's memories.
Jury Comment
What are educators around the world facing in classrooms? And beyond the classroom? At no other point in the history of humankind have we had as many people living outside of their country of origin as we do now. This can be an opportunity, but first, educators must come up with a strategy that deals with how we interpret differences between people.
The film we chose reflected a teacher's ambition to educate her young students on the impact of discrimination by placing them in a real life experiment where they experienced it themselves. There was an immediate and long term impact. The producers of the film captured this incredible lesson with simplicity and sensitivity. They let the profound images and words of the children reach the viewer. This film will be a provocative and powerful teaching tool for years to come.
Producer's Comment
Pasquale Turbide
Journalist

As I look at the Grand Prix trophy resting on my mantelpiece, I still can't believe it. The fact that our story --set in a classroom in a small French Canadian village-- won such a prestigious award is bewildering to me. Yet at the same time, it reaffirms the universal character of good stories and good journalism.
I don't specialize in education; I'm a current-affairs reporter, tackling all kinds of subjects of public interest. Being nominated for the Japan Prize made me discover a whole world of educational programming that I had no idea existed, and as a mother, that pleases me very much.
Finally, after travelling to Japan and coming in contact for the first time with a very gracious people (and their Crown Prince), my producer Lucie Payeur and I can honestly say that we will always see our Japan Prize experience as one of the highlights of our careers, even if we had not won. Winning it just made it better.
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