Students Role-Play Slaves For Class, Fairfax Co. School Apologizes

CENTREVILLE, VA — A Fairfax County school has apologized to parents after a student teacher instructed children to role-play enslaved people and a landowner during a lesson, according to reports.

The incident occurred last week at Centreville Elementary School when the student teacher led an activity intended to demonstrate the economics of slavery, according to a statement from the school district published in full by WUSA 9. A district teacher and university supervisor were present during the simulation, the statement said.

“This exercise was not part of the approved lesson plan or division curriculum,” the statement said. “The school has apologized directly to the families of the students who took part in this exercise, and to the wider community, for this regretful lapse in judgment made by an inexperienced trainee teacher who was subsequently counseled on the inappropriateness of the lesson.”

Principal Josh Douds sent a letter to families explaining the situation, but some parents are questioning how such a thing could have happened, FOX 5 reported.

"Anyone who sort of sits with it and thinks about what it means to be enslaved, it’s a horrible thing,” Meredith Lowery told FOX 5. “It’s like asking someone to role play the Holocaust. … I’m almost curious. … Was it really a mistake or lapse in judgment?"

The Lowery family plans to talk to Douds about their concerns, according to FOX 5.

In the letter to parents, published in full by FOX 5, Douds said the school intends to use the inappropriate lesson as an opportunity for teachers and staff to learn. Douds also said school officials met with students in the class that conducted the simulation to help them process the experience.

“Raising consciousness to actions, intentional or not, that cause harm to our students and families, is critical to creating a safe and inclusive school environment,” Douds said in the letter.