North County High's learning lesson: 'Offensive' class essay imitates work written in 1729

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBFF) -- An essay written by a North County High School student is raising a lot of eyebrows. The essay was part of an assignment in the school's Advanced Placement Language class. Students were supposed to imitate the work from Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," which was written more than 200 years ago.

In Swift's satirical piece of work, he advocated that poor people sell their babies in order to improve their conditions. The student essay centered on African Americans and has rattled many students.

"It had derogatory comments toward negroes and talked about how they should go back to Africa," said the parent of a North County student who read the student's essay on Facebook.

"I'm concerned about my daughter's wellbeing," he said Wednesday afternoon. "The school failed African American students," he said.

School officials met with concerned students and parents on Wednesday, but have not taken any further action at this time.