Current Events > School apologizes after assignment asking how slaves benefited from slavery.

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A_Good_Boy
04/21/18 9:24:11 PM
#1:


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/04/21/school-slavery-homework-assignment-texas/538770002/

A charter school in Texas has apologized after eighth-grade students were asked to list the "positive" and "negative" aspects of slavery for an American history class.

"To be clear, there is no debate about slavery. It is immoral and a crime against humanity," Aaron Kindel, superintendent of Great Hearts Texas, said in a Facebook statement Thursday. "We sincerely apologize for the insensitive nature of this offense."

Earlier in the week, Roberto Livar posted a picture of the assigned worksheet, titled "The Life of Slaves: A Balanced View," that his son, Manu, said was asked to complete at Great Hearts Monte Vista North campus in San Antonio, according to HuffPost.

The issue was later brought to the public's attention when Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, sent out a tweet Thursday, slamming the assignment as "absolutely unacceptable."

"Asking students to complete such an assignment challenges the reality that slavery was utterly dehumanizing," Castro said in a statement, according to KENS-TV. "It is also an affront to the basic idea of human liberty. Great Hearts Charter network should do a full review of its history curriculum and those who teach it."

Kindel, who said the incident was limited to one teacher, added that the school's headmaster and teachers will "spend time with the impacted students to explain the mistake." Kindel also said that Great Hearts is conducting an audit of the textbook, Prentice Hall Classics: A History of the United States, to see if it should be permanently replaced.

Pearson, the textbook's publishing company, distanced itself from the controversy.

"The worksheet that was being associated with this book in social media posts was not created by, endorsed, or encouraged in any way by Pearson," Scott Overland, Pearson's Director of Media Relations, told USA TODAY in a statement. "We do not support the point of view represented in the worksheet and strongly condemn the implication that there was any positive aspect to slavery."


https://twitter.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/987013603424382977/photo/1

Let's wait for all the facts first.
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Kaname_Madoka
04/21/18 9:28:03 PM
#2:


why do schools keep repeating this same mistake in america
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frozenshock
04/21/18 9:28:35 PM
#3:


How much alcohol do you need to drink to think giving this assignment was a good idea?
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UrCa1988
04/21/18 9:29:19 PM
#4:


A_Good_Boy posted...
Texas

Yeah, makes sense.
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E32005
04/21/18 9:29:55 PM
#5:


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Trigg3rH4ppy
04/21/18 9:32:02 PM
#6:


Inb4 someone lists the pros
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DuneMan
04/21/18 9:32:28 PM
#7:


What would the students even write? "Spending time together outside, singing songs, counting your meager blessings when the task master whips someone else, or the main master decides to have his way with some other slave woman"

That being said, even if this assignment didn't originate in Pearson materials, the textbooks taught in southern states definitely do some heavy editorializing of history... -_-
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Turbam
04/21/18 9:32:32 PM
#8:


What kind of positives were they expecting students to write?
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Antifar
04/21/18 9:32:38 PM
#9:


We hear like one of these stories a month
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thronedfire2
04/21/18 9:34:32 PM
#10:


Turbam posted...
What kind of positives were they expecting students to write?


free passage to America?
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SGT_Conti
04/21/18 9:34:32 PM
#11:


A_Good_Boy posted...
"The Life of Slaves: A Balanced View,"

Huh
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A_Good_Boy
04/21/18 9:34:52 PM
#12:


DuneMan posted...
That being said, even if this assignment didn't originate in Pearson materials, the textbooks taught in southern states definitely do some heavy editorializing of history... -_-

Probably why these stories are constantly coming out of those states.
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creativerealms
04/21/18 9:35:07 PM
#13:


I get why the question would bother people, it would bother me but I think it's a fair question to ask. What are some positives that came out of that horrible part of US history. Maybe it could have been worded differently so that it wouldn't sound so pro slavery but honestly I have no problem with the question.
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A_Good_Boy
04/21/18 9:36:25 PM
#14:


creativerealms posted...
I get why the question would bother people, it would bother me but I think it's a fair question to ask. What are some positives that came out of that horrible part of US history. Maybe it could have been worded differently so that it wouldn't sound so pro slavery but honestly I have no problem with the question.

Ok then; as a slave, what positive aspects can you assign to your bondage?
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creativerealms
04/21/18 9:37:57 PM
#15:


A_Good_Boy posted...
creativerealms posted...
I get why the question would bother people, it would bother me but I think it's a fair question to ask. What are some positives that came out of that horrible part of US history. Maybe it could have been worded differently so that it wouldn't sound so pro slavery but honestly I have no problem with the question.

Ok then; as a slave, what positive aspects can you assign to your bondage?

Uh you didn't read what I said did you. I was talking about the aftermath. Looming at it after it ended.
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A_Good_Boy
04/21/18 9:39:17 PM
#16:


creativerealms posted...
A_Good_Boy posted...
creativerealms posted...
I get why the question would bother people, it would bother me but I think it's a fair question to ask. What are some positives that came out of that horrible part of US history. Maybe it could have been worded differently so that it wouldn't sound so pro slavery but honestly I have no problem with the question.

Ok then; as a slave, what positive aspects can you assign to your bondage?

Uh you didn't read what I said did you. I was talking about the aftermath. Looming at it after it ended.

That's not what the assignment seems to be asking. Please stay on topic, k.
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ultimate reaver
04/21/18 9:39:35 PM
#17:


creativerealms posted...
I get why the question would bother people, it would bother me but I think it's a fair question to ask. What are some positives that came out of that horrible part of US history. Maybe it could have been worded differently so that it wouldn't sound so pro slavery but honestly I have no problem with the question.


that is not a thought exercise you assign eighth graders
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Master_Bass
04/21/18 9:39:55 PM
#18:


Turbam posted...
What kind of positives were they expecting students to write?

Greedy and inhumane masters got rich off slave labor? I wouldn't call that positive, but maybe that's what the creator of this worksheet was going for?
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Evil_Evil_Evil_
04/21/18 9:41:30 PM
#19:


slave masters benefit from free labor is probably the answer they were looking for.

disclaimer: i do not support slavery.
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Turbam
04/21/18 9:42:22 PM
#20:


thronedfire2 posted...
Turbam posted...
What kind of positives were they expecting students to write?


free passage to America?

Free?
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gunplagirl
04/21/18 9:42:40 PM
#21:


creativerealms posted...
A_Good_Boy posted...
creativerealms posted...
I get why the question would bother people, it would bother me but I think it's a fair question to ask. What are some positives that came out of that horrible part of US history. Maybe it could have been worded differently so that it wouldn't sound so pro slavery but honestly I have no problem with the question.

Ok then; as a slave, what positive aspects can you assign to your bondage?

Uh you didn't read what I said did you. I was talking about the aftermath. Looming at it after it ended.


Okay then.

How was Jim Crowe good for former slaves?
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DuneMan
04/21/18 9:44:33 PM
#22:


Turbam posted...
Free?

Well, it was more like being kidnapped and sold into bondage by raiders who made a living by capturing people to be shipped to America.
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EnragedSlith
04/21/18 9:50:19 PM
#23:


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thronedfire2
04/21/18 9:50:57 PM
#24:


DuneMan posted...
Turbam posted...
Free?

Well, it was more like being kidnapped and sold into bondage by raiders who made a living by capturing people to be shipped to America.


they didn't have to pay for a cruise ticket, though
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DuneMan
04/21/18 9:52:23 PM
#25:


thronedfire2 posted...
they didn't have to pay for a cruise ticket, though

Nope, just laid flat together like sardines, earning the name 'coffin ships'.
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Re-iNcarnated
04/21/18 9:54:17 PM
#26:


LeT's wAit F0r tHE WhoLe sTorY FIRst
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Phantom_Nook
04/21/18 9:54:30 PM
#27:


this is like, the fifth assignment where a school asks students to explain the merits of [objectively bad thing] that I've heard of recently. you think schools would learn.
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REMercsChamp
04/21/18 9:55:01 PM
#28:


Antifar posted...
We hear like one of these stories a month

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Fam_Fam
04/21/18 10:13:28 PM
#29:


perhaps the fact that food was produced that fed people is a good thing? and cotton that could be used to clothe people as well is positive. reducing the price of labor also makes the items cheaper, making them accessible for more people
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#30
Post #30 was unavailable or deleted.
Endofall
04/26/18 6:49:14 AM
#31:


Reminds me of those teachers that try to get the students to reenact it
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averagejoel
04/26/18 7:13:25 AM
#32:


DuneMan posted...
What would the students even write? "Spending time together outside, singing songs, counting your meager blessings when the task master whips someone else, or the main master decides to have his way with some other slave woman"

That being said, even if this assignment didn't originate in Pearson materials, the textbooks taught in southern states definitely do some heavy editorializing of history... -_-

it's not just the southern states. don't pin this entirely on them
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Kineth
04/26/18 7:16:05 AM
#33:


This is something that should be in a debate class, tbh.
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averagejoel
04/26/18 7:53:13 AM
#34:


Kineth posted...
This is something that should be in a debate class, tbh.

I really wish they would stop making people think there are grey areas in black and white issues. moral relativism is a fucking dangerous thing, and too many people subscribe to it after high school
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A_Good_Boy
04/26/18 8:03:47 AM
#35:


Fam_Fam posted...
perhaps the fact that food was produced that fed people is a good thing? and cotton that could be used to clothe people as well is positive. reducing the price of labor also makes the items cheaper, making them accessible for more people

Black people didn't need to be enslaved so that they could grow food. Seems like they were able to feed themselves for millennia without needing to be held in bondage.
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UnfairRepresent
04/26/18 8:08:54 AM
#36:


I get the point of the exercise but the wording is stupid, for adult let alone children
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Kineth
04/26/18 8:42:32 AM
#37:


averagejoel posted...
Kineth posted...
This is something that should be in a debate class, tbh.

I really wish they would stop making people think there are grey areas in black and white issues. moral relativism is a fucking dangerous thing, and too many people subscribe to it after high school


I agree with you. This would just be an exercise on being able to produce a competent argument on an issue that you do not side with. Admittedly, there are better topics that could be used to achieve the same goal, but in high school, the Lincoln-Douglas debate style is generally used, so the subject could be broached in a way that doesn't seek to validate slavery at all, especially given the namesakes. Still, not saying it should be a platform for what you describe.
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Dyinglegacy
04/26/18 8:54:54 AM
#38:


averagejoel posted...
Kineth posted...
This is something that should be in a debate class, tbh.

I really wish they would stop making people think there are grey areas in black and white issues. moral relativism is a fucking dangerous thing, and too many people subscribe to it after high school


For whatever reason, I have difficulty with what should be an easy right or wrong, or good or evil. I get tripped up on super easy questions, like, is it "wrong to kill someone?".

Like, I know what the answer SHOULD be, but my mind goes straight to gray areas. Every. Time.

Am I just a sociopath?
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Laserion
04/26/18 9:09:01 AM
#39:


The question wasn't what good came out of it in general. Of course the masters benefited, and other people in power got food and clothing materials. But the question was what good came out of it for the slaves. What possible answers could they have in mind?
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YOUHAVENOHOPE
04/26/18 9:10:19 AM
#40:


Laserion posted...
The question wasn't what good came out of it in general. Of course the masters benefited, and other people in power got food and clothing materials. But the question was what good came out of it for the slaves. What possible answers could they have in mind?

They were afforded the great opportunity to come to the United States

(this is literally what some people believe)
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The Top Crusader
04/26/18 9:19:14 AM
#41:


Laserion posted...
The question wasn't what good came out of it in general. Of course the masters benefited, and other people in power got food and clothing materials. But the question was what good came out of it for the slaves. What possible answers could they have in mind?


See it's worded poorly but when I heard about this my assumption was that they were asking about overall like that. Cheap labor, etc.
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Dyinglegacy
04/26/18 9:19:46 AM
#42:


Laserion posted...
The question wasn't what good came out of it in general. Of course the masters benefited, and other people in power got food and clothing materials. But the question was what good came out of it for the slaves. What possible answers could they have in mind?


The only way to know this would be to peer into an alternate timeline in which slavery never occured. Measure both timelines and then determine the positive (if any) and negative effects.
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Cj_WlLL_VVlN
04/26/18 9:19:46 AM
#43:


That doesn't sound like asking how slaves benefited from slavery but more how the country and economy did.

I think it's a fair assignment for college or maybe high school. You have to be pretty fucking stupid to give it to middle school kids.
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A_Good_Boy
04/26/18 9:57:57 AM
#44:


Cj_WlLL_VVlN posted...
That doesn't sound like asking how slaves benefited from slavery but more how the country and economy did.

The assignment is literally titled "The life of slaves: a balanced view". If it were asking how slavery benefitted the nation then the title would reflect that.
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UnfairRepresent
04/26/18 9:59:36 AM
#45:


A_Good_Boy posted...
Cj_WlLL_VVlN posted...
That doesn't sound like asking how slaves benefited from slavery but more how the country and economy did.

The assignment is literally titled "The life of slaves: a balanced view". If it were asking how slavery benefitted the nation then the title would reflect that.

Because it was horribly worded
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A_Good_Boy
04/26/18 10:05:14 AM
#46:


UnfairRepresent posted...
A_Good_Boy posted...
Cj_WlLL_VVlN posted...
That doesn't sound like asking how slaves benefited from slavery but more how the country and economy did.

The assignment is literally titled "The life of slaves: a balanced view". If it were asking how slavery benefitted the nation then the title would reflect that.

Because it was horribly worded

Why assume that?
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Caution999
04/26/18 10:11:11 AM
#47:


Obviously some dumb teacher being dumb.

Either that, or he/she wasn't thinking clearly when they made the test. Perhaps the test had 4 or 5 pages of positive and negative aspects(of different subjects), and they just went on auto-pilot for the rest of the test and copied and pasted the same box?

Either way, that's on the teacher. They should proof-read their tests before they hand them out.

I mean, you'd have to WANT to be fired to make a mistake like that...
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lilORANG
04/26/18 10:17:00 AM
#48:


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averagejoel
04/26/18 10:28:26 AM
#49:


Dyinglegacy posted...
averagejoel posted...
Kineth posted...
This is something that should be in a debate class, tbh.

I really wish they would stop making people think there are grey areas in black and white issues. moral relativism is a fucking dangerous thing, and too many people subscribe to it after high school


For whatever reason, I have difficulty with what should be an easy right or wrong, or good or evil. I get tripped up on super easy questions, like, is it "wrong to kill someone?".

Like, I know what the answer SHOULD be, but my mind goes straight to gray areas. Every. Time.

Am I just a sociopath?

well, there are people that deserve to die. there are people for whom killing them would be an objective benefit to the world (largely fascists). there are also people whose deaths were justifiable because of necessity (the royal family at the end of the French Revolution)
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Anarchy_Juiblex
04/26/18 10:31:35 AM
#50:


I'm not against wonky, provocative, and weird philosophical questions, 8th graders are probably capable of handling it, but stuff like this does need to be handled with caution because of the sensitive nature of the subject. I went to decent schools so I would trust them, but a random school in Texas isn't getting the benefit of the doubt on my end.
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