Parent upset over 'racist' article used in class

School district says handout was a teaching tool

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One parent is upset after her daughter came home from a local middle school with a letter she calls racist. The Duval County School District defended its substitute teacher, by stating the handout was used as a teaching tool.

Tia Mitchell's eighth-grade daughter came home distraught, holding a letter in her hand; Mitchell immediately read it.

"My daughter was totally distraught," Mitchell said. "She couldn't wrap her mind around that paper."

That paper was an article filled with racist statements like, "They are still our slaves," and, "A great man once said, 'The best way to hide something from black people is to put it in a book.'"

Mitchell said the article was handed out in class at Eugene Butler Middle School's Young Leadership Academy by a substitute teacher. At the end of the article in parentheses it reads, "Prove them wrong. Please pass this on!"

"How can these kids learn, and they're getting this kind of literature passed out to them?" Mitchell said.

In response, Duval County Public Schools spokesperson Tia Ford released a statement:

"School leadership has investigated the concern expressed by a parent and has determined that the article used by a Young Women's Leadership Academy at Butler social studies teacher was part of instruction being led on the Three-Fifths compromise and oppression. In an effort to bridge and expand the discussion about the 18th century Constitutional Convention with current day issues and perspectives, the instructor disseminated it and facilitated a discussion among students in a Socratic Circle style method.

"The teacher advised that the discussion was engaging and enriching, meeting the goals and objectives that she intended and have learned from strategies through participation in the district's Teaching American History grant. To date, school leadership has not received any concerns from parents or students related to the exercise. However, the school is committed to following up with the parent and student to discuss and ensure full understanding of the article and its use."

That explanation did not sit well with Mitchell.

"There are more ways to teach kids about reading," Mitchell said. "If there's a problem with these kids' reading, address it. Don't give them nothing in school that's making it worse than it is."


About the Authors:

Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016.