An Oregon elementary school teacher has resigned after allegedly telling a group of mostly black students last month that they were lucky not to be “picking up cotton and cleaning or painting a house,” the district confirmed Tuesday.

A district spokesperson said an instructional assistant allegedly made references to slave and manual labor during lunch at Linwood Elementary School in Milwaukie May 31, The Oregonian reported.

A fifth-grade parent said the employee reprimanded a group of students who were mostly black, for being too loud during lunch.

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District officials said the employee was put on leave June 5, several days after the incident. The investigation ended two days later with the employee’s resignation.

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The parent said the school is hosting a conversation for students to share experiences and ask questions related to minority issues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.