Cape Town

Parklands College in Cape Town has apologised after Grade 7 pupils were asked to make a poster advertising a slave auction in the 1800s as a "fun activity" in history class.

According to the assignment - titled "Fun Activity" - pupils were given the following instructions:

"You will create an advertisement regarding a slave trade auction that will be taking place on Friday, 24 April 1835. You will have 30 minutes to create the advert and have it posted in the assignment link shared on Google class today.

"The person with the best advertisement will get a Cadbury slab of chocolate when we get back to school.

"This is a fun activity and it will not count for marks. Be creative and have some fun."

An outraged mother drew attention to the project, and also posted a picture containing two sample advertisements the children were given.

The principal of the college's secondary faculty, Sylvia Steyn, explained that the "young and inexperienced" 31-year-old teacher explained afterwards that he wanted to consolidate the lesson about the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The teacher will undergo sensitivity training.

Johannesburg

Midstream College in Gauteng also had a similar assignment.

The principal there says the activity was withdrawn by the school after parents raised concerns and an internal investigation has been launched.

"The assignment was issued before lockdown and pupils were expected to hand it last week. We have explained to many people and apologised to those who are offended. I don’t think the intention of CAPS for slavery topic is to put anyone in a bad light to play one race against the other.

"It is something that we are supposed to do as a primary school. We removed it three years ago and Umalusi (the education regulator) forced us to put it back in our curriculum,” said Kriek.

Gauteng Department of Education Steve Mabona said they are aware of the matter and have also launched an investigation.

'We regret what happened'.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/cape-town-school-apologises-after-grade-7s-asked-to-make-slave-auction-poster-as-fun-activity-20200609

The students should have used the picture of the principal, as the slave in the posters.

donbachi:
The students should have used the picture of the principal, as the slave in the posters.

The so-called 'fun' activity would have been revoked ASAP.

senseless

TMKsouth:


The so-called 'fun' activity would have been revoked ASAP.

as easy as that...to serve as a warning to others...africa is still wiping her tears and someone have the audacity to remind her of all her pains...that principal should be arrested and fired.

donbachi:
as easy as that...to serve as a warning to others...africa is still wiping her tears and someone have the audacity to remind her of all her pains...that principal should be arrested and fired.

Seems the education regulator is the one who insisted the activity return to the curriculum 3 years ago- in the Gauteng province, at least. So we'll see who'll be the last man standing.

No room for racists to maneuver in SA anymore.

Sadly racism will never end

reginaeb:
Sadly racism will never end

It will never end but can be reduced massively.

TMKSouth historically what is the link between your country and The Netherlands

Iscoalarcon:
TMKSouth historically what is the link between your country and The Netherlands

Hi!

It began in 1647 with a Dutch shipwreck off the coast of Cape Town. A year later the crew was rescued by the Dutch government who then saw an opportunity to establish the area as a trade route between Europe and Asia. This formally began in 1652.

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-africa-1900s-1900-1917

But why is history not taught in Nigerian schools

Firstorderwizard:
But why is history not taught in Nigerian schools

Do you mean history is not offered as a subject?

This is the first time i've ever seen the words "slave" and "fun" used in the same context. Wonderfool teacher!

Papadoh:
This is the first time i've ever seen the words "slave" and "fun" used in the same context. Wonderfool teacher!

Nice observation.

TMKsouth:

Nice observation.

Thanks

Firstorderwizard:
But why is history not taught in Nigerian schools

Really you think so?

TMKsouth:


Do you mean history is not offered as a subject?

It's usually an optional subject in secondary schools, and most times only available to non science students(don't know about now, but that's how it was when I was a student)

Lorazepam:

It's usually an optional subject in secondary schools, and most times only available to non science students(don't know about now, but that's how it was when I was a student)

Thanx, you make sense. It was also optional in my time in SA from Grade10 upwards, but compulsory in Grades 8 & 9. Not so sure now since most subjects have been renamed under a new curriculum. It might fall under Life Sciences or something. I don't have kids so whatever.

i see nothing wrong with the assignment.. its called Get-into-the-feeling. Doing this will help the student feel what it meant for someone to be auctioned...
But Nigerian government are busy killing or filtering History since 1940

TMKsouth:


Hi!

It began in 1647 with a Dutch shipwreck off the coast of Cape Town. A year later the crew was rescued by the Dutch government who then saw an opportunity to establish the area as a trade route between Europe and Asia. This formally began in 1652.

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-africa-1900s-1900-1917

nice to hear that but then again what role did they play in your govt btw 1960 to 1980s especially supplies to the military

Iscoalarcon:
nice to hear that but then again what role did they play in your govt btw 1960 to 1980s especially supplies to the military

Had to Google this one, but most South Africans regard the Netherlands as a strong ally of the anti-Apartheid movement. The links between the Dutch and Afrikaners broke a long time ago.

Google the author and title of the attachment below to see if he answers your question regarding military support.

The truth is that we can not take out slavery of blacks from history and that is what makes History Unique. Teach the young ones the truth about their ancestors selling themselves all because of boots,mirrors,gun&gunpowder,Clothes and many more. Teach them about the effect of greed because that was the inducer of slave trade.

Racism

TMKsouth:


Had to Google this one, but most South Africans regard the Netherlands as a strong ally of the anti-Apartheid movement. The links between the Dutch and Afrikaners broke a long time ago.

Google the author and title of the attachment below to see if he answers your question regarding military support.

ok thanks for the info

Wat!