There is a controversy brewing in Texas over a high school teacher having her students participate in a mock trial of the police officer who killed an unarmed Black man by kneeling on his neck for over 8 minutes and having the students view the traumatic video.
According to Newsweek, the parents of high school students out of Texas are angry that a teacher at the
high school inappropriately assigned them to act as jurors in the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial. The children had to view the video of George Floyd dying and the parents have stated that the teacher did so without getting their permission.According to WFAA, many parents of the Cedar Hill High School students had sent a letter
to Cedar Hill Independent School District administrators complaining about their children’s mental health in relation to them viewing the video.“It is unfathomable to me that you felt it appropriate to force my child to watch George Floyd’s murder on television in your classroom, and then move on with his day as if nothing had happened,” read the letter. “This murder seen by millions around the globe was triggering and traumatizing for adults. Yet, you left students to handle their own emotions and mental health as they left your class, without proper and professional support.”
A memo to the parents providing a breakdown of the assignment said students were not allowed to discuss what they hear with friends, siblings, or relatives – not even the family dog.
Cedar Hill also issued a statement last week pertaining to the mock trial that the students participated in.
“The assignment was not approved by campus or district administrators. The matter has been addressed with the teacher, and the assignment was removed,” according to Cedar Hill Independent School District.
Derek Chauvin has been charged and is on trial after being seen on a cellphone video kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for over 8 minutes causing his death.