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

(+) Yeah! (+)

What grade was this targeted at? 7th grade and above could probably handle the question in a way to complete the exercise properly. Any younger than that and you probably wont yer much of an answer
---

RE_expert44 posted...

What grade was this targeted at?

8th
---

I don't have a problem with the question honestly but I bet they could have gotten away with the question if they phrased it like so: "Can you think of any silver lining regarding the slaves' situation?".
---

Sad_Face posted...

I don't have a problem with the question honestly but I bet they could have gotten away with the question if they phrased it like so: "Can you think of any silver lining regarding the slaves' situation?".

What was their silver lining?
---

averagejoel posted...

it's not just the southern states. don't pin this entirely on them

Let me put it this way, southern states are the only ones that teach the Civil War as 'The War of Northern Aggression' and ignore slavery in favor of 'State's Rights'. Good luck finding out about Jim Crow Laws as well.
---

A_Good_Boy posted...

Sad_Face posted...

I don't have a problem with the question honestly but I bet they could have gotten away with the question if they phrased it like so: "Can you think of any silver lining regarding the slaves' situation?".

What was their silver lining?

My question is can you think of a silver lining? Fortunately for you, I can.

Had slaves not been taken to the New World, I would never have gotten to live in the beautiful place where I live now, much less be alive. My Great great Grandfather was noticed by his slave owners and they put him through medical school and so he became the first black medical doctor on the island I live. It's morbid and disturbing but there are black slaves who have benefited from opportunities that opened up from being forcefully taken to the New World.
---

Sad_Face posted...

A_Good_Boy posted...

Sad_Face posted...

I don't have a problem with the question honestly but I bet they could have gotten away with the question if they phrased it like so: "Can you think of any silver lining regarding the slaves' situation?".

What was their silver lining?

My question is can you think of a silver lining? Fortunately for you, I can.

Had slaves not been taken to the New World, I would never have gotten to live in the beautiful place where I live now, much less be alive. My Great great Grandfather was noticed by his slave owners and they put him through medical school and so he became the first black medical doctor on the island I live. It's morbid and disturbing but there are black slaves who have benefited from opportunities that opened up from being forcefully taken to the New World.

Why did he have to be a slave to be put through medical school? Why did they have to be enslaved for their descendents to come to America? And that doesn't seem like a reason for why slaves benefited from their treatment, that seems like a reason for why you're great great great grandfather benefited from it, eventually. The rest of the slave population probably has a much different opinion than the outlier that was your grandfather.
---

averagejoel posted...

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)

Lol shut the fuck up averagelol
---

As well they should. Who thought this was appropriate?
---

A_Good_Boy posted...

Why did he have to be a slave to be put through medical school? Why did they have to be enslaved for their descendents to come to America? And that doesn't seem like a reason for why slaves benefited from their treatment, that seems like a reason for why you're great great great grandfather benefited from it, eventually. The rest of the slave population probably has a much different opinion than the outlier that was your grandfather.

That's why I called it a silver lining. I'm not looking to argue every little thing, but the fact remains that I wouldn't be here and my great grandfather wouldn't have achieved what he did had it not been for slavery putting him in those circumstances.

Just what are you trying to argue here?
---

Sad_Face posted...

A_Good_Boy posted...

Why did he have to be a slave to be put through medical school? Why did they have to be enslaved for their descendents to come to America? And that doesn't seem like a reason for why slaves benefited from their treatment, that seems like a reason for why you're great great great grandfather benefited from it, eventually. The rest of the slave population probably has a much different opinion than the outlier that was your grandfather.

That's why I called it a silver lining. I'm not looking to argue every little thing, but the fact remains that I wouldn't be here and my great grandfather wouldn't have achieved what he did had it not been for slavery putting him in those circumstances.

Just what are you trying to argue here?

The prompt.
---

I have no problem with the assignment, but I understand the PR move.

Sad_Face posted...

That's why I called it a silver lining. I'm not looking to argue every little thing, but the fact remains that I wouldn't be here and my great grandfather wouldn't have achieved what he did had it not been for slavery putting him in those circumstances.

Just what are you trying to argue here?

How do you know where you'd be?
---

Kaname_Madoka posted...

why do schools keep repeating this same mistake in america

Your education system is bad. It creates bad teachers. Bad teachers teach children incorrectly or without interest and motivation..who then go on to become teachers. Its a self fulfilling circle.
---

Usually the furtherest my teachers would go in talking to this would be discussing how some slaves decided to 'stay on' with their landlord even after they were legally allowed to leave.
---

thronedfire2 posted...

Turbam posted...

What kind of positives were they expecting students to write?

free passage to America?

---

DuneMan posted...

averagejoel posted...

it's not just the southern states. don't pin this entirely on them

Let me put it this way, southern states are the only ones that teach the Civil War as 'The War of Northern Aggression' and ignore slavery in favor of 'State's Rights'. Good luck finding out about Jim Crow Laws as well.

I went to school in the South and I've never even heard of the first term until the Internet, and the way we were taught about the war was never angled that way. We were told it was mostly fault over slavery, we were told about Jim Crow Laws, and we watched several movies about the abolition of slavery and the Tubman stuff, etc.

So let's dispel of this fiction that the South is teaching their kids what you're saying, because maybe it's happening somewhere, but it's definitely not the norm.

I don't feel like anything I was ever taught was pro-slavery material or slanted in any way. And I come from the deep country, too.
---

The phrase surfaced in circulation in the 1950's, but experienced a revival in the 80's and beyond. In the age of the Internet such blatant discrepancies between textbooks of various regions is naturally curtailed as it would cause a strong backlash.

That said, and as evidenced by the 'assignment' detailed in this thread, the underlying sentiments are still there in some places.
---

Reminds me of those teachers that made their students reenact slavery

The slaves benefited by getting out of Africa. If they had stayed there, their descendents would still be slaves with no way to enjoy living like actual human beings in a country with very good living standard.

TrumpTrain posted...

The slaves benefited by getting out of Africa.

I can't trace my family history past the mid 1800s thanks to the white savior. Huzzah!
---

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.
---

ModLogic posted...

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.

Yeah I'm sure the Japanese would be much better off if Russia ended up occupying half of their country. East Germany seemed like such a great place to live.
---

ModLogic posted...

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.

Wut

You're comparing fighting in a world war to enslaving people for centuries?
---

SideshowBob311 posted...

ModLogic posted...

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.

Yeah I'm sure the Japanese would be much better off if Russia ended up occupying half of their country. East Germany seemed like such a great place to live.

see? this mislead kid thinks the second bomb was necessary
---

ModLogic posted...

SideshowBob311 posted...

ModLogic posted...

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.

Yeah I'm sure the Japanese would be much better off if Russia ended up occupying half of their country. East Germany seemed like such a great place to live.

see? this mislead kid thinks the second bomb was necessary

I mean, I've only got a bachelor's degree in history, but sure, whatever makes you happy.
---

During college I had to make a lot of papers (especially in my communications class) playing the devil's advocate and I actually liked it. Our professor would purposely told us to write down on a piece of paper 3 important issues going on in the world and what position we stood on (like abortion). Then for the next 3 papers, we were assigned to write about those 3 things but playing the contrarian. So if you were pro-choice, you had to write a paper that was pro-life instead. It unsettled some of the students (hence why half of the class dropped by the end of the semester), but I stayed in it because the professor knew how to teach.
---

SideshowBob311 posted...

ModLogic posted...

SideshowBob311 posted...

ModLogic posted...

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.

Yeah I'm sure the Japanese would be much better off if Russia ended up occupying half of their country. East Germany seemed like such a great place to live.

see? this mislead kid thinks the second bomb was necessary

I mean, I've only got a bachelor's degree in history, but sure, whatever makes you happy.

im sure kim jong un has even higher qualifications not sure how its relevant when you are taught bullshit to begin with
---

Admiral High School
---

Prestoff posted...

During college I had to make a lot of papers (especially in my communications class) playing the devil's advocate and I actually liked it. Our professor would purposely told us to write down on a piece of paper 3 important issues going on in the world and what position we stood on (like abortion). Then for the next 3 papers, we were assigned to write about those 3 things but playing the contrarian. So if you were pro-choice, you had to write a paper that was pro-life instead. It unsettled some of the students (hence why half of the class dropped by the end of the semester), but I stayed in it because the professor knew how to teach.

I like that. Higher education SHOULD get you out of your comfort zone. Sounds like a smart man.
---

charter schools are racist
---

SideshowBob311 posted...

ModLogic posted...

how is misleading kids into thinking the second bomb on japan was in any way justifiable any better? america is so fucked up.

Yeah I'm sure the Japanese would be much better off if Russia ended up occupying half of their country. East Germany seemed like such a great place to live.

---

gmanthebest posted...

Prestoff posted...

During college I had to make a lot of papers (especially in my communications class) playing the devil's advocate and I actually liked it. Our professor would purposely told us to write down on a piece of paper 3 important issues going on in the world and what position we stood on (like abortion). Then for the next 3 papers, we were assigned to write about those 3 things but playing the contrarian. So if you were pro-choice, you had to write a paper that was pro-life instead. It unsettled some of the students (hence why half of the class dropped by the end of the semester), but I stayed in it because the professor knew how to teach.

I like that. Higher education SHOULD get you out of your comfort zone. Sounds like a smart man.

---

gmanthebest posted...

Prestoff posted...

During college I had to make a lot of papers (especially in my communications class) playing the devil's advocate and I actually liked it. Our professor would purposely told us to write down on a piece of paper 3 important issues going on in the world and what position we stood on (like abortion). Then for the next 3 papers, we were assigned to write about those 3 things but playing the contrarian. So if you were pro-choice, you had to write a paper that was pro-life instead. It unsettled some of the students (hence why half of the class dropped by the end of the semester), but I stayed in it because the professor knew how to teach.

I like that. Higher education SHOULD get you out of your comfort zone. Sounds like a smart man.

Not to sound like a SJW, but the professor was a woman. But I agree, the point of college is to get out of your comfort zone.
---

TrumpTrain posted...

This post is still up
---

Due to how SJW operate I would never apologize as that never enough for them
---

Jaghave posted...

Due to how SJW operate I would never apologize as that never enough for them

Yet another 15 year old account popping out of the woodwork to whine about SJWs and support racism.

And who can't spell lol.
---

ASithLord7 posted...

TrumpTrain posted...

This post is still up

And you constantly shit post, so I'm not sure what your point is.
---

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.

I hear this argument all the time and it's bullshit. In a philosophy course? Sure, great question. In a university class? Sure, let's look at what they were fighting for. In eight grade? You are just being a dick. It's the same reason that sex education is important, but you don't start it in first grade.

thanosibe posted...

ASithLord7 posted...

TrumpTrain posted...

This post is still up

And you constantly shit post, so I'm not sure what your point is.

My posts that you think are shitposts aren't moddable like supporting slavery, methinks.
---

A_Good_Boy posted...

Sad_Face posted...

I don't have a problem with the question honestly but I bet they could have gotten away with the question if they phrased it like so: "Can you think of any silver lining regarding the slaves' situation?".

What was their silver lining?

jazz music
---

DuneMan posted...

averagejoel posted...

it's not just the southern states. don't pin this entirely on them

Let me put it this way, southern states are the only ones that teach the Civil War as 'The War of Northern Aggression' and ignore slavery in favor of 'State's Rights'. Good luck finding out about Jim Crow Laws as well.

i honestly wasnt taught about jim crow laws until college
---

ASithLord7 posted...

thanosibe posted...

ASithLord7 posted...

TrumpTrain posted...

This post is still up

And you constantly shit post, so I'm not sure what your point is.

My posts that you think are shitposts aren't moddable like supporting slavery, methinks.

I didn't make the argument supporting slavery. I am saying that the slaves brought to the west got the better deal compare to the one who were sold within Africa because the descendents of slaves in Africa are still slaves today. Saudi Arabia is still abusing them today. Whereas the descendents of the slaves in the west are free.

The west freed the slaves way faster than Africa and the Middle East, but they get no credit for it. It's surprising that free black people around the world feel so connected to their African former enslavers.

Turbam posted...

What kind of positives were they expecting students to write?

Not being slaves in Africa?... that's literally it.
---

UnfairRepresent posted...

I get the point of the exercise but the wording is stupid, for adult let alone children

This.

I suspect this "worksheet" expects a very specific list, directly out of the textbook.
I want to see the answer key.

ASithLord7 posted...

Jaghave posted...

Due to how SJW operate I would never apologize as that never enough for them

Yet another 15 year old account popping out of the woodwork to whine about SJWs and support racism.

And who can't spell lol.

ASithLord7 posted...

Jaghave posted...

Due to how SJW operate I would never apologize as that never enough for them

Yet another 15 year old account popping out of the woodwork to whine about SJWs and support racism.

And who can't spell lol.

Didnt really pop out of the woodwork
I pop out if the political forum just to see what going on and this topic caught my interest
---

Prestoff posted...

gmanthebest posted...

Prestoff posted...

During college I had to make a lot of papers (especially in my communications class) playing the devil's advocate and I actually liked it. Our professor would purposely told us to write down on a piece of paper 3 important issues going on in the world and what position we stood on (like abortion). Then for the next 3 papers, we were assigned to write about those 3 things but playing the contrarian. So if you were pro-choice, you had to write a paper that was pro-life instead. It unsettled some of the students (hence why half of the class dropped by the end of the semester), but I stayed in it because the professor knew how to teach.

I like that. Higher education SHOULD get you out of your comfort zone. Sounds like a smart man.

Not to sound like a SJW, but the professor was a woman. But I agree, the point of college is to get out of your comfort zone.

Sorry about that. I didn't see any pronouns and just assumed. My b.
---