The Dallas Independent School District is investigating a W. T. White High School English teacher who described Kyle Rittenhouse as a "hero" in an online assignment. The assignment asks students to write about heroes such as Mahatma Gandhi, César Chávez and Malcolm X. Further down the list, Rittenhouse and Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the protesters Rittenhouse is accused of killing, are listed.
Rittenhouse is the 17-year-old who travelled to Kenosha, Wisconsin following the shooting of Jacob Blake. While there, the teenager is accused of shooting and killing two protesters during a demonstration.
The inclusion of the accused shooter sparked outrage and concern from students and their families. The sister of one of the students who learned of the assignment was less than pleased.
"It was just like, 'Oh my gosh, the spelling,' 'Oh my gosh, there are no women on here,' and then very ardently the fact that a White supremacist murderer's name is on a list with important historical figures," Kristian, who declined to provide to her last name, said.
After learning of the assignment, Dallas ISD had it removed from Google Classroom and informed students that they would not have to complete it.
“An unapproved assignment posted in Google Classroom yesterday has been brought to our attention. Understandably, this caused some concern for the impacted students, and we apologize," the Dallas Independent School District said in a statement.
At this time, the school district has declined to identify the teacher by name. However, school officials have said that they are taking the "appropriate steps" to handle the matter.
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