This pisses me off.
http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_275172255.html
Got the article from fark. Maybe I'm just a little disillusioned with the human race right now because its before nine in the morning and I'm only on my second cup of coffee, but what the fuck, people?
These teachers should not be in any sort of trouble - the exercise teaches critical thinking and the ability to look at the controversial side of an argument. Its not as if there is a realistic fear of these kids growing up to be plantation owners and own slaves of their own. If its truly a concern of the parents that this might impress bad ideals on their children, perhaps they should carefully examine their parenting.
My fifth grade teacher had our class do a very similar exercise - where we had a whole classroom debate on whether or not slavery was a good idea. Half the class got assigned to one side of the argument, the other half to the other side. I happened to be on the "slavery" side. It stands out in my mind as an assignment that really taught me how to understand the root cause of the conflict during the time period. Guess what? To this day, I own no slaves.
Forgive the curtness and likely improper grammar. I'm angry and groggy.
Got the article from fark. Maybe I'm just a little disillusioned with the human race right now because its before nine in the morning and I'm only on my second cup of coffee, but what the fuck, people?
These teachers should not be in any sort of trouble - the exercise teaches critical thinking and the ability to look at the controversial side of an argument. Its not as if there is a realistic fear of these kids growing up to be plantation owners and own slaves of their own. If its truly a concern of the parents that this might impress bad ideals on their children, perhaps they should carefully examine their parenting.
My fifth grade teacher had our class do a very similar exercise - where we had a whole classroom debate on whether or not slavery was a good idea. Half the class got assigned to one side of the argument, the other half to the other side. I happened to be on the "slavery" side. It stands out in my mind as an assignment that really taught me how to understand the root cause of the conflict during the time period. Guess what? To this day, I own no slaves.
Forgive the curtness and likely improper grammar. I'm angry and groggy.