Parklands College & Christopher Robin Pre-Primary | Image: parklands.co.za
The Cape Town teacher who set up the “fun” activity of getting his history pupils to draw a poster advertising a slave auction has resigned.
This according to Parklands College secondary faculty principal Sylvia Steyn.
He was supposed to have undergone sensitivity training, but in an online meeting during the school’s mid-term break, he resigned with immediate effect.
Steyn said he felt he would be under “constant scrutiny”, so decided to leave.
Fun assignment
The independent school apologised when a parent shared the assignment for Grade 7s on social media.
The assignment, titled “Fun Activity” read:
Midstream College in Gauteng also had a similar assignment.
Prinicipal Carel Kriek said the assignment, in which Grade 7 pupils were asked to create a poster for an upcoming slave auction in 1614, was withdrawn by the school after parents raised concerns.
Kriek said the school had launched an internal investigation into the matter.
Apologised
Umalusi also launched an investigation in its capacity as the body that accredits, certifies and verifies certain education institutions.
Kriek previously said the school had apologised to those who were offended.
It emerged the school had reintroduced the topic to be compliant with the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements, and did not present it as a “‘fun activity” as the Parklands College teacher had.
“The CEO of Umalusi, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, has expressed his appreciation for the prompt response from Midstream College, thanked Dr Kriek for clarifying the issue, and considers the matter resolved,” said Umalusi’s head of communication, Lucky Ditaunyane.
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