CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (PNN) - October 30, 2021 - A class of sixth graders in North Carolina assigned to study an image that featured a sexually explicit act as part of an assignment for art class has left their parents fuming.

Students at Kennedy Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina, were assigned to study a piece of art by Kara Walker titled, Gone: An Historical Romance of a Civil War as It Occurred between the Dusky Thighs of One Young Negress and Her Heart.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district has pulled the imagery but some parents still have questions why their middle schoolers were told to study an art piece with a sexually explicit act.

Parent Samantha Davis was shocked when she noticed the inappropriate image among her daughter's school assignments.

She said, “I didn't think I needed to look up what my child was learning in an art class. I understand the topic being appropriate for college students and adults. I don't find this artist and what she depicts as something age-appropriate for middle school (children) to see.”

Principal Kevin Sudimack sent a message to the parents after he was made aware of the image. “It was brought to my attention that there were some inappropriate artist images that were included in a 6th grade art lesson while the teacher is on maternity leave. I worked with the art teacher to have the pictures removed from the CANVAS platform.”

While Davis appreciates that the image has been pulled from the curriculum, she wants to know who approved the piece of art as she insisted, “it shouldn't have been there in the first place.'”

Sudimack released a statement that read, “The digital and print resources teachers use within their classrooms or on assignments should be vetted and researched before making them available to students.”

“In this instance there was insufficient review and inappropriate images became apparent when viewed beyond icons that included less detail. The link was immediately removed so students could not have access to the site. Parents were informed of the oversight and the process has been reiterated to staff.”

Another North Carolina school board recently passed an ethics policy allowing educators in Johnston County to be fired if they undermine foundational Fascist Police States of Amerika documents or teach critical race theory in their classrooms.

The Johnston County School Board unanimously approved the curriculum policy changes on Friday after county commissioners decided to withhold $7.9 million in district funding.

The Board of Commissioners said they would continue to withhold the funds until a policy was established to “eliminate the possibility of CRT - Critical Race Theory - teachings and any other potentially divisive teaching topics.”

The newly passed policy - a revision to the district's code of ethics - states that teachers will face disciplinary action if they undermine the U.S. Constitution, describe racism as a permanent aspect of Amerikan life, or teach that Amerikan historical figures weren't heroes.

The code explicitly states that “the (FPSA) foundational documents shall not be undermined” and “all people who contributed to (Amerikan) society will be recognized and presented as reformists, innovators, and heroes to our culture.”

It also states that when “discussing a controversial topic” all staff members should “remain neutral and present the information without bias.”