#Texas school asks kids to write about Kyle Rittenhouse as ‘hero’

A Texas high school is under fire for a class assignment that included Kenosha shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse among a list of “heroes.”

The controversial paper assigned Monday by W. T. White High School teacher Paul Ford asked students to write a one-page essay on a “hero for the modern age,” the Dallas Observer reported.

Rittenhouse, who was charged last month with fatally shooting two people at a Black Lives Matter protest, was listed as one of the heroes to choose — alongside Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi, César Chávez, George Floyd and one of Rittenhouse’s alleged victims, Joseph Rosenbaum.

“It didn’t sit right with him that a white supremacist murderer was on the same page as people he recognized to be important historical figures,” said Kristen Hernandez, whose brother was one of the seniors who received the assignment.

“I don’t think that human rights are up for debate, I don’t think the sanctity of Black lives is up for debate, and that’s what this assignment is basically saying,” she added.

The district later issued an apology in an emailed statement, saying the prompt had not been approved by the administration.

District spokeswoman Robyn Harris said an investigation would be launched and then “appropriate steps” would be taken.

“Racial equity is a top priority in Dallas ISD, and we remain committed to providing a robust teaching environment where all students can learn,” Harris said.

“It is important that we continue to be culturally sensitive to our diverse populations and provide a space of respect and value.”