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.
An eighth-grade history teacher is on leave after a 2012 assignment in which he asked students to write about the positive aspects of slavery surfaced.
A homework assignment on slavery drew sharp criticism after its graphic imagery distressed at least one Black family in East Lansing Public Schools.
Chelsea Wade said her daughter, an eighth grader at MacDonald Middle School, completed an assignment during Black History Month that presented violent images and descriptions of slaves, slave quarters and rebellions, then asked students to imagine themselves as enslaved people.
The assignment traumatized her daughter and the entire family, Wade said.
One exercise on the three-page worksheet showed students a photo of a slave rebellion in which a Black man is strangling a white man. It then asked: Imagine you were one of these enslaved persons. Describe what would bring you to the point of fighting back.
EL middle and high school students move to remote classes for the week of April 12 East Lansing High School on July 19, 2020. Photo by Annie Barker | The State News
Schools in the Ingham Intermediate School District service area will be moving to remote instruction for middle and high school students the week of April 12 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the community.
While East Lansing Public Schools have not seen an increase in cases specifically from their schools, there has been a spike in cases for ages 10-19 and 20-29 in the East Lansing community.
Based on the recommendations from the Ingham County Health Department and current data trends, Superintendent Dori Leyko ordered the middle and h
WKAR File Photo
Starting Tuesday, the East Lansing School District will provide COVID-19 rapid testing for those returning for in-person instruction.
East Lansing schools transitioned back to in-person classes earlier this month, though the district will still offer the option of remote instruction through the end of the school year.
Students will be offered the same test beginning March 15. Parental consent will be required for students under 18.
The tests deliver results in about 15 minutes. Superintendent Dori Leyko says the district has hired 12 people who’ll form two teams to conduct tests on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays before the start of class each day.