Objective:
Students will understand the concept of eugenics and discuss the impact of eugenics ideas on modern society and contemporary issues.
Essential Question:
- What roles do fairness and equality play when making decisions about who belongs or who is valued in society?
- If you were living in a society where eugenics policies were in place, what challenges might you face, and how would you respond?
Suggested work for class discussion: A slide presentation on the history of eugenics, along with excerpts from the following readings, can be used to promote class discussion. While the readings are not necessarily connected with eugenics, excerpts illustrate the effects of the discriminatory attitudes that informed eugenics. A link under Suggested Reading Resources will give the instructor an idea of themes to use and how they can be associated to the effects of eugenics for all the books discussed in this unit.
Nuestra Piel: Una Primera Conversación Sobre La Raza by Megan Madison
Stamped (Para Niños) by Jason Reynolds
¿De dónde eres? by Yamilet Saied
Key vocabulary: eugenics, fairness, equality, inclusion, sterilization
Lesson flow:
Begin the lesson with the essential question to the class: " What roles do fairness and equality play when making decisions about who belongs or who is valued in society?" as the introduction to the central theme of the day’s discussion—fairness, equality, and the historical impacts of eugenics.
Introduce the concept of eugenics. The Anti Eugenics Collective summarizes eugenics as “a political ideology predicated on the exclusion or elimination of groups based on ambiguous metrics like ‘desirability’ and ‘fitness.’”13 Explained that throughout history, eugenicists have misused science to justify differences among people. This led to the development of discriminatory laws and harmful policies targeting immigrants, poor people, and minority groups.
The lesson proceeded with a brief overview of the origins and applications of eugenics, including its role in shaping policies such as forced sterilization and immigration restrictions in the 19th and 20th centuries. While discussing the topic in an age-appropriate manner and ensuring sensitivity toward the diverse backgrounds of students, a brief PowerPoint presentation can be shown, incorporating pictures from primary sources to trace historical facts. Use definitions and visual aids to clarify key terms and concepts, helping the students grasp the material. The Anti-Eugenics Collective website (https://www.antieugenicscollective.org/) is a resource for primary sources, images, and timelines you can use. Also, an example of a presentation you can use with your students could be accessed at https://prezi.com/view/dNKeb0q3sk3mF6xp1syG/.
Students then worked in small groups to explore scenarios reflecting choices around fairness and selection. Each group will be assigned an excerpt from one of the reading selections for their reflection. These activities helped them identify potential biases and consider equitable alternatives. Graphic organizers will be used to record their observations and insights, ensuring active participation and structured engagement. Students will consider questions such as "How does this scenario make people feel?" and "What might be a fairer way to make these decisions?" to guide the discussions.
At the end of the small group activity, have a class-wide conversation that will allow students to share their thoughts on the ethical lessons derived from eugenics and debate how society could prevent similar injustices today. After sharing, each group will write 3 statements that can represent their collective commitment to a fair and inclusive classroom and community environment.
To conclude the lesson, have each student compose a reflection paragraph responding to the prompt: "Why is it important to learn from the history of eugenics? How can we apply what we learned to make fairer decisions in the future?" The reflections will be an indication of their understanding of fairness and their ability to connect historical lessons to present-day ethical choices.
Before closing, revisit the initial questions: -What roles do fairness and equality play when making decisions about who belongs or who is valued in society? And if you were living in a society where eugenics policies were in place, what challenges might you face, and how would you respond?" This will allow the teacher to see or highlight how the student's viewpoint has evolved through the lesson.
As a unit end project, encourage the students to explore an extension activity—researching historical figures or movements that opposed eugenics and writing a page report on their contributions to human rights. Assign reference materials and center time for this activity throughout the unit.
By integrating discussion, independent practice, and reflection, the lesson provided students with a deeper understanding of fairness, the historical consequences of unethical practices, and the importance of empathy and respect in shaping a just society.
