Slavery Math Problems Anger Parents [VIDEO]

Parents are upset with a teacher at a Manhattan elementary school after their fourth graders brought home math homework that features story problems about killing and whipping slaves.

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The students had been learning about slavery in history class, and when the children were asked to create math story problems, many used what they had just learned.

"In a slave ship, there can be 3,799 slaves. One day, the slaves took over the ship. 1,897 are dead. How many slaves are alive?" Another question read, "One slave got whipped five times a day. How many times did he get whipped in a month (31 days)?"

Many parents were outraged, citing the assignment as "insensitive" and "offensive."

But others defended the teacher. “It is history, and this did happen," said one mother. "So I don’t understand why would they take disciplinary action?”

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[CBS]