ST ANDREW, Jamaica — Prestigious St Andrew-based private school, Hillel Academy, has apologised for a controversial history assignment given to grade nine students on “punishments for enslaved people”.

“Given the language used in the assignment, we accept and understand the concerns that have been raised; and acknowledge that there should have been greater sensitivity in the wording of this assignment,” the institution said in a statement late Friday.

The school was harshly criticised on social media over the assignment, which requested that students select and justify methods and reasons for which black people were punished during slavery.

Methods of punishment cited in the assignment, said to be given to grade nine students, included: shackle; coffle; slave collar; thumb screw; the Cat O Nine Tails Whip; mutilation; baracoon and bear trap.

The assignment surfaced on Twitter today, and, as with any trending topic on the social media platform, users are weighing in. Many took the time to disdainfully reject such an assignment and brought to the fore issues of classism/racism in Jamaica.

Other users used the opportunity, through wit, to make light of the situation.

However, it also brought up claims that this type of assignment is typical of the institution and cited others cases.

One Twitter user stated that as a past student, one exercise she and her peers where asked to do was to re-enact slavery which saw water coolers, bathroom stalls and chairs being labelled “whites only” and “blacks only”.

Here are some comments from other users below:

TwittaTimes: Ruel Reid need to put a Pep in Hillel step… Whats next??? How many lashes would you give your gardener???

JussiMarie: I really dont c wat the big deal is about this Hillel history assignment. Is the issue with the assignment or the sch at which the assignment is given? I did C’bbean history and I had to write essays about the rational behind the justification for slavery & the punishments used. 

Itsleahcar: I’ve written off Hillel ever since that uptown vs. downtown costume “clash” where the objective was apparently to raise money for charity; the “downtown” students dressed like stereotypical ghetto people – brightly colored wigs, knee high socks, the whole nine yards.

Gabbienain: The Hillel assignment: Appalling, but not surprising.

Bigblackbarry: I need Upper Senandju (St Andrew) to jump in and defend Hillel now. Don’t let these silly bhuttus dictate the narrative!

The remainder of Hillel’s apology in full:

We, as the leadership of Hillel apologise for this. Immediately, the assignment was brought to our attention, action was taken in communicating with our students.  

We apologise to our students and we continue to dialogue with each student that received the assignment. We have explained the actual intent, which was to learn about and become sensitive to what we have all accepted as one of the most egregious acts towards any group of human beings of any century to date.

We will continue to have dialogue with all students, parents and staff members to ensure that each is aware that we do not justify nor condone any action of slavery towards any individual historically or presently.

Hillel Academy does not, in any way, accept or condone any disrespectful, demeaning or discriminatory attitudes or behaviours. We consider ourselves educators of a future generation and encourage empathy and respect for every human being.