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A family is pushing for the removal of a middle school assistant principal in Spokane, Washington, after the mother of two Black students raised concerns about a classroom assignment to clean newly picked cotton.
Assistant Principal Taylor Skidmore at Sacajawea Middle School suggested the twins, who are 14, be removed from their social studies class after their mother, Brandi Feazell, called to raise concerns about the "harmful lesson," according to the Associated Press.
"As two of the only three Black students in the class that day, my daughters already felt singled out during an activity that required them to clean cotton. Separating them from the rest of the class would only compound their pain and isolation and do nothing to change the racist culture and policies that led to this inappropriate and harmful lesson in the first place," Feazell said.
In a statement, Spokane Public Schools said the incident was being investigated and that the class was being taught about the industrial revolution and the cotton gin. The twins have not returned to their school since the classroom assignment took place on May 3.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below:
Feazell said she was shocked at Skidmore's suggestion to segregate her daughters from their class.
"We take all complaints very seriously and are committed to investigating them fully," the school district said. "There are conflicting reports regarding this incident."
"Once the third-party investigation is completed, we look forward to coming back to share the outcomes," the district said.
On May 3, the twins said their fifth-period social studies teacher took out a box of raw cotton and told the class they were going to see who could clean cotton the fastest.
"The teacher kept saying, 'We don't need slaves anymore,'" one of the girls said. "That really hurt because it felt like she was saying there was a time when slavery was OK."
The twins do not feel comfortable going back to school until the incident is addressed, their mother said.
In addition to asking that Skidmore be removed, the family wants the social studies teacher and other school administrators who failed to act promptly to face discipline.
They are also asking for a public apology from Spokane Public Schools and for anti-racism training to be implemented districtwide.
