Homework Question About Punishing Slaves Puts Teachers On Leave

SUN PRAIRIE, WI — Students and parents at Patrick Marsh Middle School in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, were equally perplexed with a question on a recent homework assignment related to a social studies lesson on Hammurabi's Code.

The question, according to screenshots shared on the Facebook pages of parents in the district, stated: "A slave stands before you. This slave has disrespected his master by telling him 'You are not my master!' How will you punish this slave?'"

"The punishment?" the assignment continued. "According to Hammurabi's Code: put to death."

Zavion Hopkins, a Patrick Marsh student who read the assignment, told WKOW his "mind was blown" when looking at it.

"I showed it to my mom, and I said, 'I don't know how to answer this,'" Zavion told the news station.

The racially insensitive assignment that in essence asked kids how they would treat slaves — given to sixth grade students on the first day of Black History Month — led to multiple teachers being placed on administrative leave, according to a statement from Sun Prairie Schools administrators.

"A small group of our teachers developed and used an activity that was neither racially conscious nor aligned to our district mission, vision, values, curriculum, or district equity statement," according to a district letter published by WKOW.

Dazarrea Ervins, Zavion's mother, told WKOW she was also "taken aback."

"I was like, 'Oh my gosh. Are you kidding me?'" she said.

Priscilla Jones said her son, George Brockman, teared up when telling her about it.

"When I came in, he said, 'Mama, they were talking about slaves,'" Jones told WKOW. "And then he said he thought that was over."

The instruction of the lesson has been stopped, according to the district. Administrators said the lesson was not part of the curriculum.

"No student should participate in or complete the assignment," their statement continued. "We deeply regret that this lesson took place, and we also recognize that this was a breakdown in our curricular processes and our district-wide focus on equity."