After Lesson Asking How To Punish Slaves, WI Teachers Resign

SUN PRAIRIE, WI — Three Wisconsin middle school teachers have resigned after they assigned sixth-grade students a lesson asking them how they would punish a slave who disrespected their master.

The resignation stems from an investigation into the social studies assignment, which was collaborated on by the teachers two or three years ago, according to a report by the Wisconsin State Journal.

The assignment presented sixth-grade students at Patrick Marsh Middle School with the following scenario: “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 lesson was meant to prompt students to answer questions using Hammurabi’s Code, a set of laws in ancient Mesopotamia, by putting them in positions of power specific to a time in history and make judgments in different scenarios.

The assignment was reportedly outside the district curriculum and not approved by district leadership.

The three teachers were allowed to resign, but will remain on paid leave for the remainder of the school year, the Journal reported.