A Kent school has come under fire after its pupils were given a worksheet asking them to imagine buying slaves at an auction as part of a history project.
The year 8 students at Rochester Grammar School (RGS) were asked to pose as potential slave buyers and to choose the best slaves for their business based on the described qualities on a budget of £100.
Under the heading "Slave auction: lots to be sold today", the worksheet listed: "Lot 3: 2 Krumen males slaves freshly imported from Liberia. Very good condition. Lot 4: 2 Chamba slaves. 1 male. 1 female. At 28 they offer good breeding potential," and "Lot 7: 4 Yoruba males, aged about 21. 3 are very strong, 1 less so."
The pupils' assignment read: "Consider what sort of slave your business will need. Examine the characteristics of the slaves in source A. Can you find any that you could use?
"Focus your bids in the first round on those lots that you really think would be an advantage. Would a combination of different types be more suitable? The key question to ask is 'What can I buy for my £100'."
An image of the worksheet was posted to social media with the caption: 'a vile disgusting racist school'.
One user commented: "This is absolutely appalling and in no way can be justified as a legitimate history project! A playground for the bigoted! Another reason to scrap grammar schools, if that's what they're breeding!
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By all means learn about the slave trade and it's abuse of human beings, but this piece of work terrifies me."
Another added: "As a former teacher and principal I am trying to understand what they were thinking, what the intended learning outcome was. But I can't. It is just wrong on every conceivable level! And it sends a very unsettling message."
Responding to the criticism, the school claimed that the assignment was an adaptation of primary sources from the period and used as part of the wider context of the history curriculum.
Credit: Facebook/Barac Zita
A spokesperson for the school told LADbible: "We categorically condemn slavery and racism of any kind, whether historic or present, and are extremely proud of our multi-cultural school, and the tolerant and inclusive atmosphere that we foster every day to ensure all our students are well-rounded young people.
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"This worksheet was used in the wider context of our history curriculum, which is in line with the Department for Education's history curriculum which says students should be taught about the effects and eventual abolition of the slave trade. The lesson in question made very clear how the commodification and objectification of human beings within the slave trade, and slave auctions in particular, were deeply immoral and inhumane.
"However, we know upset has been caused and we unreservedly apologise where that has been the case. This worksheet was for use this academic year, and as teaching on this subject has now concluded for the year, it will not be used in future.
"We look forward to working with students, parents, and experts to find a better approach to deliver teaching on this subject in future."
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Barac Zita