Anger at 'slavery' maths homework

on 22/02/2013 16:56:35

A New York City principal says she's "appalled" by a homework assignment that used scenarios about killing and whipping slaves to teach maths.

Adele Schroeter has ordered sensitivity training for the entire staff of Public School 59 in Manhattan, the Daily News reports.

Education officials say a teacher asked a group of nine to ten-year-olds to write homework questions that blended maths and social studies.

The teacher then used the students' questions, including the slave-related ones, as homework for the class.

One question stated the number of slaves who died while taking over a ship. It asked how many slaves were still alive.

The other said a slave was whipped five times a day and asked students to calculate how many times a month he was whipped.