Teachers Under Fire For Controversial Slavery Lessons; Parents Want Them Sacked

Controversial Slavery Lessons San Franscisco Rochester new york Social Studies Rebecca Archer Creative Arts Charter School Fernando Aguilar School of the Arts Precious Morris Kelly Nicastro slavery cotton-pick raw cotton plant

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald May 02, 11:34 am

Photo: (Photo : MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Two Social Studies teachers from separate schools in San Francisco and Rochester, New York, had come under fire for a controversial slavery lesson and were believed to be placed on administrative leaves and investigations.

In San Francisco, an eight-grade teacher wanted to introduce the students to the hardships of slavery in America. So, the teacher brought raw cotton plants with sharp edges to class, which was used to demonstrate the ill-treatment of slaves during the Industrial Revolution.

According to The Grio, mom Rebecca Archer raised her concerns about the controversial slavery lessons with officials of the Creative Arts Charter School, a progressive institution. She found out that the teacher placed the cotton plants on the children's hands and likely evoked "many deeply hurtful feelings" instead of raising awareness or promoting empathy.

No Firsthand Experience Needed, Says Mom

In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Archer pointed out that the kids do not need a firsthand experience of what happened during the days of slavery. She felt that it was cruel to have the kids go through such an exercise.

The lesson occurred just before the Spring Break, and the school investigated the teacher within 24 hours. After a few weeks, the teacher was not seen in school, but the officials declined to comment if there were any suspensions.

The teacher came back in mid-April and sent letters to the outraged parents of the students admitting that the lesson was "not culturally responsive." The school's director, Fernando Aguilar, also issued a statement to indicate that the controversial slavery lesson did not fit their mission and vision.

Half of the student body of the Creative Arts Charter School are white, while the rest are Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American.

Parents in New York Highlight the Lesson's Real Problem

In late April, a similar incident also took place among seventh-graders at the School of the Arts in Rochester, where a teacher had students simulate a cotton-picking activity while handcuffed. The class was composed mostly of Black students, according to Fox News.

This led to Precious Morris's mom complaining that the teacher "made a mockery of slavery." Morris said that she does not have a problem with the lessons because teachers in the old days also taught about slavery. What became a problem was the teacher had to bring cotton plants and had the kids pick the cotton seeds.

Worse, the teacher allegedly allowed some white students to opt out of the exercise. However, students of color were discouraged from not participating because they would not get good grades.

As a result of the controversy, Kelly Nicastro, the principal, issued a statement indicating that the complaints had been taken seriously after parents called for the teacher to be sacked. The school board also expressed that the incident, which is under investigation, was "extremely troubling."