JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville family said they noticed their seventh-grade student had trouble with a few assignments in class. In the Duval County Public School District, all students use an online portal called Achieve 3000. This is where students, parents and teachers can review assignments and grades. This local family went into their student’s account to find out where the grades started to slip and found an assignment that they described as concerning.
The family asked not to be identified for the student’s privacy.
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According to the Achieve 3000 assignment, it was called, “Catching Runaway Slaves.” It asked the student to read the provided article about the Fugitive Slave Act and answer three questions.
- After Reading Poll: “The Fugitive Slave Act was necessary in order to hold the country together. Agree or disagree?”
- Thought Question: “Would you have been willing to help runaway slaves in 1850? Why or why not? Use the facts from the news story to back up your answer. You can use ideas of your own, too.”
- Math: “In 1850, people who helped runaway slaves could be fined $1,000 and go to jail for six months. How long is six months?” Student could choose one of the multiple choice answers.
Based on this assignment, the student’s family said the questions were “insensitive” in their wording.
“We read through the article and I was deeply disturbed,” the student’s aunt said. “My blood pressure went up because of the way it was described, the details of somebody being in slavery and then these penalties that anyone who helps a slave escape gets.”
Action News Jax spoke to the school district about this assignment. A spokesperson said this seventh-grade class had just completed a lesson called, “Comparing and Contrasting Fiction to History.” Students read historical texts and historical fictions.
For example, a primary goal reads, “I can compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.”
Then each student read the same article that involved the Fugitive Slave Act. They later had assignments generated by Achieve 3000. However, they said each student would have a different assignment based on the individual’s reading level.
Action News Jax reporter Elizabeth Pace met with other parents near the school. She explained the lesson and individual assignment to learn their opinions.
“The time period gets lost in our time period because it is a really different frame of mind,” parent Kimberly Whipple said. “So I don’t have a problem with that question because you’re dealing with facts of history.”
“I think that question’s OK by trying to say if they want to help,” another parent said.
“I really don’t see a problem with it, but I can see where other people might,” a local mother said.
“I just don’t feel like at that 13 and 12-years-old that should be something they should be asked,” another mother said.
To address any concerns, the district spokesperson said, “We will continue to work to assist the parent in connecting with the school so they can provide a fuller understanding of the entire lesson plan and objective.”
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