East Lansing teacher reinstated after probe of slavery assignments
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EAST LANSING A MacDonald Middle School teacher returned to work Monday following an investigation into two assignments that drew criticism from parents.
East Lansing Public Schools concluded its investigation of Matt Christians, an eighth grade history teacher who assigned controversial assignments on slavery during Black History Month, Superintendent Dori Leyko confirmed.
Leyko sent an email to all eighth grade families Monday informing them of Christians return. She declined further comment due to scheduling conflicts.
Christians first came under fire earlier this year for assigning a worksheet that asked students to imagine themselves as enslaved people. Following public criticism of that assignment, a second assignment surfaced, from 2012, in which Christians asked students to argue for the positive aspects of slavery.