Students 'Forced To Reenact Slavery Games': Report

SHOREWOOD, WI — A Shorewood middle school teacher has been put on leave after school officials say she suggested to black students that they research games once played by children who were slaves. According to a letter sent to parents on April 11, Bryan Davis, Shorewood Schools Superintendent said district officials were not publicly naming the teacher involved.

In a WTMJ report late Thursday, the students made claims about their gym teacher and what happened that day:

“Ms. Zehren forced me and my partner to reenact slavery in front of the entire class," seventh-grade student Alexis Averette said in the report. "When we told her we were uncomfortable she told us we still had to do it." She said as other students were demonstrating the game of dodgeball, she and her partner were "uncomfortable" when it came time to demonstrate a game rooted in slavery.

Averette is referring teacher Jan Zehren, a physical education teacher who has taught in the district for more than 30 years.

The letter sent to parents states that during a seventh grade gym class at Shorewood Intermediate School, the teacher shared an activity with students on the topic of "games from around the world."

The letter continues, saying that following the class, students reported that the teacher told black students in the class that they research games once played by children who had been enslaved, referencing an earlier time in U.S. history.

Davis stated that district officials learned of the allegations on April 3, and put the teacher on leave pending an investigation into the matter.

"We take these allegations extremely serious," Davis said. "Throughout this situation, student safety and well-being have been our top priority. Our school counselor, school psychologist, Dean of Students, and the SIS principal have been providing support to the students who were directly involved in the incident."