LEXINGTON, S.C.- A South Carolina elementary school teacher who asked students to role play as Ku Klux Klan members for a homework assignment has been placed on administrative leave.

Local media outlets report that Lexington-Richland School District 5 says it's "taking this matter very seriously" after Tremain Cooper posted a picture of his nephew's assignment on Facebook last week.

The assignment asked fifth-grade students at Oak Pointe Elementary to imagine they were a member of the KKK and provide a justification for the KKK's treatment of African-Americans. It also asked students to imagine they were newly freed slaves and explain if they were satisfied with their lives.

The school district says it's continuing to investigate and will ensure the assignment is not used again in district schools.