School Slave Game Played During Recess, Parents Outraged
Students at Camp Creek Elementary School have reported playing a slave game during recess.
Georgia's Channel 2 Action News broke the story that four children told their parents they played a game of tag in which they were slaves and slave catchers. The students also allege that the game was a suggestion by their teacher, who also participated in the game.
Ericka Lasley told reporters that her daughter came home and said, "We played a game that was kind of like tag but we were slave and slave catchers."
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Charvia Rivers' children supported this assertion and explained that their teacher "was right there on the bench" with them. The teacher portrayed the role of a safe-house guard, according to reports.
Gwinnett County's school board has issued the following statement: "The school district looked into concerns regarding four students who participated in a playground activity. The district determined that the activity was student initiated and that allegations regarding the teacher's involvement were unfounded."
This is not the first time the Gwinnett County school board has had to investigate allegations of slave-related teaching or activity. Earlier this month one teacher resigned from Beaver Ridge Elementary resigned and apologized for writing questions involving slavery for homework.
Rivers said she was "shocked" and described the game as "demeaning and hurtful."
People across the nation are reacting strongly to the game, with comments pouring in on Facebook and Twitter. One Twitter user, @lawscribe, tweeted: "Racism, alive and well in America."
Tim Callahan of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators told reporters, "We have to be very sensitive to multi-cultural issues, sensitive to lifestyles the children may have, their languages. We need to follow up on it [diversity classes] when young men and women get in our classrooms."
In response to the allegations, the school district has stated that it is planning mandatory diversity training for all staff and faculty.
