A school in the US has apologised for trivialising slavery after creating a game for their students based on the Underground Railroad - the network of secret routes and safe houses established during the early to mid-19th century, and used by African-American slaves in the south to escape into free states in the north.
As part of recognising Black History Month in the US, students in the third, fourth and fifth year at Madison’s Trust Elementary school in Brambleton, Virginia, were given a lecture about the Underground Railroad.
According to Wayde Byard, a Loudoun County Public Schools spokesman, the students were then divided into groups of six and instructed to tackle a series of physical obstacles, such as moving through plastic hoops without knocking them over.
“It trivialises something that is important,” Byard told The Washington Post. “There was an error made here... slavery is not a game.”
The principal at Madison’s Trust Elementary School David Stewart acknowledged the mistake and said they would attempt to rectify the situation.
“The lesson was culturally insensitive to our students and families,” he said. “I extend my sincerest apology to our students and school community.”
He added the school would create a team of parents and school employees to help the institution with equity and cultural responsiveness.