School at centre of 'slavery' storm after Facebook picture shows a black girl on a leash

A school is at the centre of a ' slavery ' storm after pictures of a young black pupil being led around a classroom on a leash were posted on social media.

The US elementary school has been forced to apologise after the shocking images were shared thousands of times, sparking national outcry.

However, teachers at the campus - which has pupils as young as four - insist the image of two white children holding leashes is all a big misunderstanding.

Staff at Mitchell Elementary School in Bridgewater, Mass, say the picture actually show part of a lesson on how “lead strings” were used by parents in the 17th century to stop kids running off. Not everyone is convinced though.

Many parents remain angry, with some saying it looks like the black girl is being “enslaved” by her classmates.

A parent told CBSBoston: “If you look at that picture out of context, what are you going to think? It’s clearly what it looks like, it’s disgusting.”

While another parent, Andrea St. Clare, even picked up her child early from school she was so shocked and upset by the news.

She said: “It seems like enslavement of a person. The colour of the child has nothing to do with it.”

Following public outrage, school superintendent Derek Swenson said: “It was never the intent of the lesson to demean or degrade any one person or group.

"The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District sincerely apologises to the students, staff and community at large for this unfortunate incident.”

Some parents still remain unconvinced though, and most believe the situation should have been handled better.

The lesson was reportedly overseen by the director of education at local historical site, Plymouth Plantation.