A Wisconsin private school that asked fourth graders to list three good reasons for slavery and three bad ones apologised to parents after the mother of a black student shared the assignment on Facebook, calling it offensive.
In a letter to parents on Tuesday, Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Wauwatosa agreed the homework was offensive and said it "showed a lack of sensitivity." It also thanked the student's mother for bringing the issue to their attention.
"The purpose of the assignment was not, in any way, to have students argue that ANY slavery is acceptable — a concept that goes against our core values and beliefs about the equality and worth of people of all races," the letter said.
Trameka Brown-Berry, the parent who shared the assignment online, said the school explained the assignment as a way to have students think about why white people once thought it OK to own slaves. She said it's good for students to learn about slavery but that the assignment's question was shocking.
