Parent says teacher told students to act like slaves for history lesson

Tamika Derozen is mobilising fellow parents to condemn the teacher

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An insensitive history lesson at Shelburne Middle School has Tamika Derozen, a parent whose son is a 6th grader there, demanding justice.

Ms Derozen told WHSV-TV that her son’s class was studying the Louisiana Purchase when the teacher, “asked all of the African-American students to come to the front of the classroom.” The students were then asked to participate in a skit in which they played slaves, pretending to pick cotton and dig for coal. The teacher also asked white students to act as noblemen.

The sixth-grade student told his mother, “Mom, I didn't know what to do. I wanted to walk out of the class, but I didn't want to get in trouble."

Ms Derozen contacted the school’s principal, who apologised and told the teacher that she couldn’t “single out a group of children based on their race.”

But, rather than apologising and recognising her mistake, the teacher responded to Ms Derozen’s complaint by attempting to justify her actions to the students. She projected an image from the show “Roots” and asked students if it made sense for a white actor to play the role of a slave. Derozen said,

"She went on to say, 'exactly my point. For those of you that I offended, I apologise. But I want you to understand my reason for calling you up as African-Americans is because you better fit the role as a slave.’ She still wanted to make herself right. You can't right your wrong."

After hearing about the teacher’s justification for the discriminatory skit, Ms Derozen contacted the NAACP and is mobilising the parents of other children in the class to join her.

Linda Reviea, Ed.D., the superintendent of Staunton City Schools, has addressed the incident with a statement, saying:

“We were just recently made aware of the incident at Shelburne Middle School and are investigating the information we received. The matter will be handled swiftly and fairly according with School Board policy.”

“If such behavior occurred, it is grossly inappropriate, insensitive and contradictory to the values of our school division and will not be tolerated. At all times we expect our teachers and staff to be positive role models and demonstrate sound judgment.”

“I want to emphasize that in no way does Staunton City Schools condone or encourage instruction that deliberately singles out a person or group because of race and subjects them to disparagement or humiliation.”