South Fayette High School teacher suspended after issuing 'inappropriate' assignment

A South Fayette High School social studies teacher has been suspended after issuing a controversial assignment about slavery.

The assignment was titled “Is The Slave Trade Profitable?” It asked students to be a ship captain in the 1700s and budget the buying and selling of slaves, asking whether they would “tight pack” or “loose pack” the ship to make more money.

Trib Total Media news partner WPXI spoke with several parents and students about the assignment.

“It’s just shocking that my son had to sit in class and figure out the price that his ancestors were bought and sold for,” parent Leigh Hill said.

Her son, Elijah Hill, said the assignment made him feel uncomfortable.

“This assignment was just a little weird since all the protests in 2020 (and) how this is pretty hectic and overwhelming,” he said. “This assignment shouldn’t be published anymore.”

Superintendent Kenneth Lockette confirmed the teacher’s suspension and other district’s actions via letter Wednesday.

“While the district does have defined and approved curricula, teachers have some latitude in the resources and materials they choose to use in their lessons,” Lockette wrote. “Once alerted to the existence of this assignment, the administration reviewed the assignment and met with the teacher.

“After taking these steps it was determined that the assignment is inappropriate, offensive and unacceptable. The assignment will no longer be used in any class and the teacher has been suspended.”

Lockette said there will be further action by the district to review assignments.

“We will engage in a systematic process to ensure that any other inappropriate assignments are identified and removed immediately,” the superintendent wrote. “As part of the 2019-2022 strategic plan, the district has put much effort and resources into creating an equitable, inclusive environment through policy reform, student advocacy, hiring practices and other areas.

“However, as this assignment demonstrates, there is more critical work to do to ensure that our curriculum, instruction, and climate provide culturally inclusive experiences for all of our students. … We commend the student for speaking up about this assignment and apologize for the harm that this has caused. The voices of our young people are important and heard.”

Junior Aliyah Emanuel said she was given the assignment her sophomore year.

“I started to realize that is wrong on so many levels,” she told WPXI. “It was very uncomfortable because I was the only person of color in my class, and I had to work with other white students. It was really uncomfortable having to put a price on people.”

Messages were sent to the superintendent seeking more information about the teacher and where the assignment came from. So far there has been no response.