Tuesday, March 31

It all started as a school project for a class of 7th graders at Andover Middle School. The topic: the effects of racism and oppression in 1930s America.

Students had recently read Mildred Taylor's 1976 novel, "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry." The book deals with issues faced by African Americans in the first half of the 20th century.

But one student's work is catching the attention of more than just his teachers and classmates. Wichita's NAACP is now looking into a complaint filed by another student's mother, who took offense to one project in particular.

The complaint stems from a board game created as part of a research assignment by one student. The 7th grade boy decided to focus his project on the history of the infamous Ku Klux Klan. School administrators say the student designed the game to accompany his research paper, hoping it would help fellow classmates better understand the impact the white supremacy group had on civil rights.

That game was publicly displayed at last week's open house.

"This is a matter of common sense," says Wichita NAACP President Kevin Myles.

The concerned mother emailed Myles several photos of the board game. As players make their way around the edge, they follow instructions such as: "You forgot to wash your white robe and cannot go to the lynching. You are punished. Move back two spaces."

Another square reads: "The rope you are hung with breaks. Move forward five spaces."

Myles called the game, and especially its public display, "insensitive."

"I think the school could have used better judgment in deciding whether or not to display this," Myles said.

Andover school administrators say they and the student never meant to offend anybody.

"The last intent he would ever have would be to offend," middle school principal Brett White said Tuesday of the student and his work. "He was powerfully moved by the research he uncovered... and couldn't believe some of these things really happened."

White said the student felt others should know about the Klan. The game was not meant as an endorsement.

Myles doesn't blame the student. But he does believe the school should have explained to the class why the game can easily be misconstrued.

Andover schools say the game will not be shared with - or played by - other students. However, the topic of racism and its effects will continue to be taught. Administrators also say they will take greater care with future projects.

White says the reaction the board game has caused is a valuable lesson in itself. He says it shows students first-hand the emotions that still exist in America when it comes to racism. White says that is a lesson a textbook cannot teach.

"We've got to continue to teach these types of things in order for students to have that depth of understanding," White said.