W.T. White High School in Dallas, Texas faces serious backlash following an assignment that prompted students to write about various heroes from a list including Gandhi, Malcolm X, and Kyle Rittenhouse.
What We Know:
- The 17-year-old accused of killing two people in Kenosha, Kyle Rittenhouse, was included on a list for an assignment labeled “Hero for the Modern Age”. The English assignment asked students to write a half-page biography of each name listed. The list included Mahatma Gandhi, César Chávez, Malcolm X, George Floyd, Kyle Rittenhouse, and Joseph D. Rosenbaum.
- The English teacher that created the assignment remains unidentified due to personnel reasons. However, the school district, Dallas ISD, released a statement saying, “Racial equity is a top priority in Dallas ISD, and we remain committed to providing a robust teaching environment where all students can learn,” DISD officials said in a written statement. “It is important that we continue to be culturally sensitive to our diverse populations and provide a space of respect and value.”
“From the spelling, to the grammar, no women on the list… and then a white supremacist murderer.”
Kristian (Anonymous student)
It’s the @dallasschools assignment that has people across the country now asking questions. Accused #Kenosha killer among list of “heroes” for an English assignment. Defenders say it’s about “critical thinking”, others call it flat out racist, and wrong @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/JnluETK3Br
— Robbie Owens (@cbs11Robbie) September 16, 2020
- W.T. White High School officials have announced that the students will not be asked to complete the assignment. Campus administration immediately removed the assignment that was posted on Google Classroom and an investigation of the situation is pending.
Parents, students, and social media remain outraged by the assignment’s blatant lack of empathy following the wrongful deaths in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
