The alleged auction of slaves by the teacher in a grade 5 class calls AG's response

A fifth-grade teacher accused of having staged a simulated slum auction last week in which white students from a private school in Bronxville, NY state. , were invited to bid, was put on leave for an indefinite period.

The director of Chapel School said Monday at NBC News that a third party was conducting an independent review.

"On behalf of The Chapel School, I offer my sincere apologies to our students, their families and the community," said Michael Schultz. "The reported racial insensitivity is unacceptable and we do not tolerate any action that belittle anyone. "

Cuddy and Feder, a law firm representing the teacher, said that a slave auction had never taken place.

"To the extent that someone is offended by a small part of the general lesson of the day that has been used solely to highlight the tragic injustice of slavery, it was certainly not the intention, "said a company partner at NBC News. "She is eager to continue teaching with the same dedication, sensitivity and passion that she has always shown."

The charges prompted New York Attorney General Letitia James to respond.

"The reports on racist" lessons "by a teacher at The Chapel School are deeply troubling," James told NBC News Monday in a statement. "My office is closely monitoring this case."

Vernex Harding, the mother of a student from Westchester County School, about 15 km north of Manhattan, told the media that the white teacher had recently cleared white students to do an offer and to "buy" black students, who had to pretend to be slaves. .

"I'm shocked and upset that this has happened to my son," Harding told the New York Daily News. "I am very shaken."

She said that her son was "humiliated".

Harding is a school administrator at another school, according to her LinkedIn page.

The annual tuition at Chapel School, which accommodates students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, costs up to $ 14,000.

The director stated that all faculty and staff would receive awareness training.

"Teachers will address the children concerned and will benefit from additional support from mental health professionals," he said. "The emotional state and well-being of our students and our commitment to the respect of all people are our greatest concerns."