Connor English

Staff Writer

   A teacher at Beaver Ridge Elementary in Norcross, Georgia recently gave out math homework to over 100 students. In an attempt to combine learning from his social studies lessons with the math concepts, he included questions regarding slavery and Frederick Douglass in the math assignment. One question asked, “If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in one week?” Not only did this teacher create such controversial questions, but the assignment was shared across the grade and used by teachers in four of the nine third grade classes at the school.

    Of the 1,261 students at Beaver Ridge, 96% are minority while 50% of the teachers at Beaver Ridge are white. Family members who helped their elementary-aged children solve equations about slaves picking cotton were outraged by the seemingly racist questions. The NAACP became involved and met with superintendent, Dr. Gale Hey, to discuss the matter. Although the teacher was not identified, the school made a statement saying that the questions had no “malicious” intent when the homework was assigned and that proper action was being taken.

    District spokeswoman Sloan Roach recently issued a statement saying that she agreed that the questions were improper and that the district will be establishing a monitoring system to ensure that future homework questions be suitable for students. She also stated that she would not “elaborate further” on the teachers involved other than the fact that the teacher who created the questions resigned. Dr. Gale Hey is still declining comment. Regardless of the intent of the teacher, the subject matter for the questions was clearly inappropriate.