Texas 8th-graders told: List positives of slavery

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A Texas charter school has apologized after a teacher asked students in an eighth grade American history class to list the positive and negative aspects of slavery.

Officials at Great Hearts Monte Vista in San Antonio say the teacher who distributed the worksheet has been placed on leave and the school would be reviewing the history textbook associated with the lesson. The headmaster also plans to explain the mistake to the class.

KENS-TV reports that a spokesman for the book's publisher, Pearson, says the company didn't create and doesn't endorse the worksheet the students received. Scott Overland says Pearson strongly condemns the implication that there was any positive aspect to slavery.

A parent of one of the students posted a picture of the worksheet on Facebook on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro tweeted about it the next day, which drew attention to the issue.