User:Rozesi/sandbox

Controversey
In June 2012, James and Sandra Baker, parents of a 7th grade student at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy(HMTCA), complained to Principal Sally Briggs that their daughter, suffered emotional trauma and abuse when participating in a slavery enactment while on a field trip to Nature’s Classroom, a nonprofit environmental education program with facilities throughout the Northeast. The Bakers stated that they had not been notified that the reenactment (which did not relate to their daughter’s current studies) was to be part of the field trip, that the students were thrust into the exercise without adequate preparation, and that the reenactment was "racially charged and emotionally abusive". The students were told to act as slaves, sold at an auction and told to pick cotton. They stumbled around the woods at night while Nature’s Classroom employees used intimidating language including the N-word, and threatened them with physical violence.

Despite repeated telephone calls and emails, Principal Biggs refused to address the Bakers’ issues until after they had filed complaints with both the Hartford Board of Education and the State Board of Education. When they still were not contacted to discuss the issue, the Bakers then filed a complaint with the Connecticut Human Rights Commission and subsequently removed their daughter from HMTCA.

On August 13, 2013, representatives of the State Board of Education finally met with Nature’s Classroom regarding the simulation and found that:

°“There are no clear or concise goals and objectives identified for the program. °There are no clear instructions for staff regarding appropriate or inappropriate language or actions, or caution around possible emotional and/or psychological effects—particularly when students of color participate.

°Playing a role of an oppressed person or oppressor can be traumatic and reinforce negative stereotypes. °The staff and teachers are not adequately trained to facilitate an emotionally delicate and complex activity.”

As a result of its investigation and the Bakers' efforts the State Department of Education is reviewing its criteria for such extra-curricular programs and the HMTCA no longer utilizes the program In response to the controversy, the Executive Director of Nature’s Classroom, Dr. John G. Santos stated that he was unaware tht the racial slurs had been used. He also explained that HMTCA chose to participate in the simulation, as it had for the past 5 years, and that Nature’s Classroom has been offering the program for over twenty years.     and later removed it from its currriculum for overnight programs.