A South Carolina elementary school teacher who asked students to role play as Ku Klux Klan members for a homework assignment has been placed on administrative leave.
The Island Packet reports that Lexington-Richland School District 5 says it's "taking this matter very seriously" after Tremain Cooper posted a picture of his nephew's assignment on Facebook last week.
"This is my little 10-year-old nephew's homework assignment today. He's home crying right now," he wrote. "How can she ask a fifth grader to justify the actions of the KKK?"
The assignment asked fifth-grade students at Oak Pointe Elementary to imagine they were a member of the KKK and provide a justification for the KKK's treatment of African-Americans. It also asked students to imagine they were newly freed slaves and explain if they were satisfied with their lives.
The school district says it's continuing to investigate and will ensure the assignment is not used again in district schools. "We have been in communication and will continue to be in communication with families to let them know our actions and next steps," the statement said, according to WLTX-TV. "South Carolina standards for 5th grade require lessons on Reconstruction and discriminatory groups including the KKK. We must teach the standard, but we are taking steps to ensure this particular assignment will never be used again in District Five schools."
