In Ohio, a school district just apologized for using a mock slave auction to teach social studies to elementary school students. It occurred last week at Chapelfield Elementary School in Gahanna, Ohio, during an American history lesson in which the class was divided into slaves and masters.
One student, Nikko Burton, an African American, was assigned to the role of the slave, according to WBNS-TV news in Central Ohio. At first, he indicated that being a slave didn’t bother him. However, as the role-playing continued, he became offended when the lesson took the form of a slave auction.
“After people were bidding on people,” the 10-year-old said, “it kind of made me a little mad and stuff.”
He also stated that the students who were in the role of master were instructed to feel the slaves to determine if they were strong and healthy and worth buying.
“The masters got to touch people and do all sorts of stuff,” Nikko said. “They got to look in your mouth and feel your legs and stuff and see if you’re strong and stuff,” Nikko told reporters.
Eventually, Nikko was sent to his seat after he refused to be poked and examined during the reenactment. Aneka Burton, Nikko’s mother, said that her son was humiliated and that she complained to the school district. School officials declined to comment but did issue a statement that said, in part, “As soon as the concern was brought to our attention, school officials acted promptly to speak with the parent.” School authorities maintain that this lesson is part of a “state required” curriculum. A representative of the school district apologized to the family over the phone. The teachers have yet to apologize. –torrance stephens
Torrance Stephens, Ph.D., authors the blog rawdawgb.blogspot.com. Find him on twitter.com/rawdawgbuffalo.
