A Florida school asked second-graders to submit a photo of themselves in a bathtub doing reading homework — and then kicked out one student whose parents complained.
Misty and Christopher Dunham reached out to their daughter McKenzie’s teacher at Victory Christian Academy in Jacksonville to ask “what the intentions are” for the homework assignment, Action News Jax said.
The response of the 8-year-old’s teacher was not up to snuff.
“She did send out a message saying, ‘you should be in pajamas, be in your uniform, have fun with it.’ But, it didn’t sit right,” Misty Dunham reportedly said.
“A bathtub is not appropriate for a child to take a picture.”
Misty Dunham then escalated the situation to the administration of Victory Christian Academy when she was told “we have been sending this homework assignment for years, and you’re the only one complaining about it. Just cover your child in pillows or pajamas,” according to a police report filed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Pastor Jesse Latta, the president of Victory Christian Academy, defended the school in a statement, writing that the assignment “was taken out of an online teacher resource and has been used in many schools.”
Misty and Christopher Dunham accuse Victory Christian Academy of retaliating against them by removing McKenzie from the school without any rationale. Misty Dunham said that after the complaint, the school requested a parental withdrawal and when she and her husband refused, it went forward with an administrative withdrawal.
“She did something right by telling Mom and Dad that she wasn’t comfortable with something, and now she’s no longer in school,” Christopher Dunham said.
While Latta refused to confirm or deny whether the school forced Dunham’s daughter to leave, he said the school does not plan on repeating the assignment next school year.
“While the assignment was completely innocent, out of an abundance of caution and for there to be no misunderstandings, our administration has removed this particular assignment for any future use,” Latta said. “We value our children and their safety is our top priority. We will continue to serve the children and families in which the Lord has graciously allowed us to have a part in their lives.”
