Jeff Rumage

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A gym teacher from Shorewood Intermediate School has been placed on leave during an investigation into an alleged incident of racism.

Shorewood School District Superintendent Bryan Davis sent a letter home to parents on Thursday, April 11, explaining the April 1 incident.

According to the letter, the gym teacher was teaching seventh-grade students about "games from around the world." As part of the class, the teacher allegedly suggested to African-American students that they research games that had been played by enslaved children, according to the letter.

Davis said school officials learned about the incident on April 3 and immediately launched an internal investigation. The teacher has been placed on leave, pending the findings of the investigation.

Davis said the school district is committed to providing an environment of inclusion.



"We take these allegations extremely serious," Davis said. "Throughout this situation, student safety and well-being have been our top priority. Our school counselor, school psychologist, Dean of Students, and the SIS principal have been providing support to the students who were directly involved in the incident."

The school district has declined to name the teacher, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Contact Jeff Rumage at (262) 446-6616 or jeff.rumage@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffRumage or Facebook at www.facebook.com/northshorenow.