Illinois high school students participate in mock slave auction
Barrington High School is apologizing after some of its students participated in a mock slavery auction over the weekend.
It happened during the Illinois Junior Classical League Convention at the Westin hotel in Itasca. The students took part in a competition to display their knowledge of Greek and Roman cultures.
A parent captured cellphone video of the slave auction skit that was performed by students from Barrington High School in which a student was sold while in chains.
Students as young as 13 from Kenwood Academy in Chicago say they were offended by the slave auction.
Barrington officials issued an apology on their Facebook page, saying:
The Barrington School District offers sincere apologies to those offended by a skit our high school Latin students conducted at the Illinois Junior Classical Convention in Itasca this weekend. Their depiction of slavery as it was practiced by ancient Greeks and Romans unintentionally but understandably evoked strong emotions among a diverse audience. We agree with the concern and are reviewing the incident with students and staff who were involved.