Fifth grader 'sold' in mock slave auction in New Jersey school

An elementary school in Maplewood, New Jersey is under fire for holding a mock slave auction.

The NJ Advance reports that a note was sent home to parents of the Jefferson School explaining what happened. Apparently, the teacher was absent due to dental surgery. Students took it upon themselves and "used creative license" to put on a presentation of the Triangular Slave Trade.

The class had been learning about the slave trade. "While I understand the creative effort, and the impact it had upon the students who viewed this, I used it as a teachable moment to elaborate on the gravity of this part of our history," the class's teacher wrote in the letter sent to parents.

According to CBS New York, black children were put "on sale" by white children. Parent Tracey Jarmon-Woods was outraged by the display. "If you're demoralized — sold on a block in 2017 — it may affect you the rest of your life," she told CBS New York.

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Another parent agreed. They told CBS, "I'm disgusted, really disgusted a child was bought. That doesn't make any sense."

Suzanne Turner, a spokesperson for the South Orange Maplewood school district, told NJ.com that the district will reevaluate the criteria for substitute teachers.

Turner said, "The activity was not part of the curriculum, not part of the teacher's assignment, not condoned by the teacher, not authorized by the district."

A school social worker apparently spoke to the students on Tuesday. A town hall meeting will take place as well.