Slavery math questions spark uproar at NYC school

[BAMAPHIN 22]

A homework assignment that used scenarios about killing and whipping slaves to teach math to nine-year-olds has caused a stir at a Manhattan public school.

A teacher at Public School 59 in New York had asked fourth-graders to write homework questions that blended math and social studies, education officials said. The teacher then used the students' questions, including the slave-related ones, as homework for the class.
One question involved a ship with 3,799 slaves. ''One day, the slaves took over the ship. 1,897 are dead. How many slaves are alive?'' it asked.
Another question stated a slave was whipped five times a day and asked students to calculate how many times a month he was whipped.
Parents of students at the school called the lesson inappropriate and offensive. "I don't understand how teachers aren't aware that would be offensive. Why aren't they aware? Why aren't they in touch? Why aren't they concerned with these issues of minorities in America nowadays?" parent Tim Tate told CBS New York. "It's a little unnerving, a little unsettling."
"In this day and age when every body is so sensitive, when every body is so politically correct, it's probably not the best thing to do," one father said. "I don't understand why they would even say that to kids, it's sending the wrong message," another father said.
A student-teacher said she was shocked by the wording and later refused to hand out the worksheet in another class.

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[NY8123]

1,902 are alive and it depends on the month, 155 times a month in January, March, May, July, August, October and December. 150 times a month in April, June, September and November. And finally 140 times in February unless of course it's a leap year which would be 145 times.
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