Philly teacher under scrutiny after giving an assignment asking students to imagine they were enslaved people

The Philadelphia School District is investigating why one of its high school teachers gave a social studies assignment asking students to imagine they were enslaved people, and requiring them to write a letter pleading to not be sold.

The creative writing assignment — given to Lincoln High students in an African American History class during Black History Month — directed them to imagine that they were enslaved in “one of the Southern slave states, particularly one of the states within the cotton kingdom” between 1820 and 1850. It said they should write an essay explaining how they felt about potentially being sold and asked them to “make an argument, plea, etc. to that individual to attempt to get them to reconsider their position or offer an alternative ‘arrangement’ or course of action.”

“You must include reasons for not wanting either you or your family members to be sold, what the consequences of the action would be for you and your family, what you plan to do if the sale goes through, etc.,” the assignment read.

When some Lincoln staffers learned of the assignment — given to some 10th graders at the Mayfair school, where over 80% of students are children of color and 36% are Black — they alerted administrators, who “seemed upset,” one said. But the assignment stood, and students were graded on it.

The essay was due Feb. 26. This week, photos of it began circulating on social media.

Shakeda Gaines, president of the citywide Home and School Council, said she wept when she read the assignment.

“I’m flabbergasted as to why a teacher would think this appropriate,” said Gaines. “To tell a classroom with Black children to imagine they’re slaves — imagine the trauma.”

Asked about the assignment, district officials called it “inappropriate” and said they were taking “immediate action” to address it, but declined to confirm the teacher’s name or go into specifics about what steps would be taken.

The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers said it could not comment. The union also declined to identify the teacher.

Monica Lewis, a spokesperson for the school system, said the writing assignment was not part of the district’s approved curriculum.

“The School District of Philadelphia is committed to making all learning environments welcoming and culturally inclusive places that are supportive and respectful of the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students and their families,” Lewis said in a statement. “As we advance our District-wide focus on equity, inclusion and antiracism, our goal is to promote teaching and learning environments that respectfully educate our young people about past injustices while supporting them to become informed and empowered future leaders.”

A source with firsthand knowledge who declined to be identified for fear of reprisal said Lincoln staff did not complete mandatory antiracist training earlier this year. The training was attempted, the source said, but there were technical difficulties, and it was never completed.

Lewis said officials are contacting students who had been given the assignment. The school offered one-hour sessions with counselors Friday for “any student that wants to process their feelings regarding social injustice,” according to an email sent to staff.

That the assignment was given in the first place still rankles many.

A Lincoln High staffer who declined to be identified was incredulous that a teacher thought it was acceptable to ask students to put themselves in the place of an enslaved person.

“It was just so disturbing,” said the staffer. “The grade was based on having people beg not to be sold into slavery.”