Norfolk principal apologizes for mock auction of black students

Parents Forum
1

<p>"The principal of Sewells Point Elementary School has apologized to parents for a teacher’s classroom exercise last week that cast her black and mixed-race fourth-graders as available for sale.</p>

<p>The apology came after the teacher separated the students from their white classmates and auctioned them, division spokeswoman Elizabeth Thiel Mather said. The exercise was part of an April 1 class on the Civil War…"</p>

<p>Object lesson or poor judgment?</p>

<p>[Norfolk</a> principal apologizes for mock auction of black students | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com](<a href=“http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2011/04/norfolk-principal-apologizes-mock-auction-black-students]Norfolk”>http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2011/04/norfolk-principal-apologizes-mock-auction-black-students)</p>

2

<p>Disgusting</p>

3

<p>A demonstration like this could possibly be used as teaching material for adults, but it would be much too emotionally intense for elementary school students.</p>

<p>So while the teacher may have had good intentions (giving a visceral experience about how wrong it was to sell human beings), the teacher showed bad judgment in using it with fourth-graders.</p>

4

<p>Hopefully this story is an April Fool’s joke. Ridiculous.</p>