School district removes survey deemed "inappropriate" from civics class
School district removes survey deemed “inappropriate” from civics class
School district removes survey deemed "inappropriate" from civics class
WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- The superintendent of the West Allis/West Milwaukee School District describes a political survey given to 11th graders at Nathan Hale High School as "inappropriate." This, after parents and students expressed outrage over the assignment.
A school spokesperson says the assignment in question has been given out for the past ten years. Until now, there have not been any complaints. But the superintendent says the survey will no longer be assigned to any class -- and some new policies are being developed to make sure nothing like this happens again.
The assignment was given in a civics and government class at Nathan Hale. Students were asked to rate several statements on the political spectrum. What really concerned one student and his mother was the first question and its answer: "We should not help the poor, it's a waste of money." The student answered "E. Fascist." But the answer as corrected by his teacher was "D. Conservative/Republican."
"I was just like, 'No, that's not right.' And there shouldn't be you know one answer," said Nancy Pielmeier, parent.
The outrage over the question has now received national attention -- and that of the district's superintendent. He told FOX6 News, "Bottom line, the survey never should have been given out. It was inappropriate."
Not everyone felt this way -- including some who actually took the quiz.
"A lot of the kids in my class said, 'That's offensive. But I didn't find it offensive," said one student.
"I don't necessarily think it's a terrible thing to use drastic contrast when you are explaining the views to people who don't currently understand it," said Kara Kay, parent.
The assignment has been pulled from the curriculum. School officials say the teacher was directly talked to about it.
FOX6 News spoke with the parent who first brought this story to everyone's attention. She said it started as a Facebook post -- and never imagined it would get this much attention.