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Racist Satire by Student at Glenn Burnie High School Raises Outcry

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GLEN BURNIE, Md. (AP) - A satirical essay by a high school student in Glen Burnie that calls for the destruction of black people is stirring outrage in the community.

In a North County High School class, a teacher recently assigned students to write a satirical essay modeled after "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift - a 1729 essay mocking heartless attitudes toward the less fortunate.

One student - a 17-year-old junior who is white - turned in an essay satirically suggesting the eradication of all but a few black Americans. The essay has circulated on social media, angering students and community members alike.

Principal Julie Cares sent a letter to parents Tuesday explaining the assignment, and says the essay was "ill-advised and insensitive."

Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier says the school system hasn't yet determined if disciplinary action is appropriate.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.