NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 6, 2025) — A controversial homework assignment at Trinity Elementary School has sparked outrage among parents after a fourth-grade class was asked to “pretend you are a slave” and write a story about their life, prompting a swift response from the City School District of New Rochelle.
The assignment, part of a social studies lesson on “The Colony Under English Rule,” instructed students to “use a separate sheet of paper” and describe “your family, your feelings about slavery, and your plans for freedom.” Keona Parker, whose daughter attends Trinity Elementary, refused to let her child complete the task, writing on the assignment that her daughter would not answer the question. Parker then contacted Principal Michael Hildebrand to express her concerns.
Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds issued a statement on June 5, 2025, acknowledging the incident and apologizing to the affected family.
“We deeply regret that one of our elementary school teachers used a long-outdated NYSED-approved resource in a social studies class that is not aligned with our values as a school district, and which included a racially hurtful and insensitive question in a homework assignment,” Reynolds said. He noted that while the teacher instructed students not to answer the offensive question, it was not removed from the handout.
The resource, tied to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) curriculum on the transition from Dutch to English rule in New Netherland, was retired years ago but was inadvertently used. The curriculum covers topics like colonial life, economic systems including slavery, and the lasting Dutch influence in New York. Reynolds emphasized that the material failed to meet the district’s standards for culturally responsive and historically accurate education.
To address the incident, the school district has apologized to the student’s family and offered additional resources. Principal Hildebrand is supporting the child, and the school plans to facilitate a restorative circle for the class and provide one-on-one counseling for students. The district also committed to reinforcing protocols to ensure instructional materials are thoroughly vetted to align with culturally responsive education guidelines.
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A Statement From Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds June 5, 2025
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.