Amidst the rising accounts of gun violence in the US, a Florida teacher was fired for asking students to write their own obituaries.
Florida teacher fired over an assignment
Jeffrey Keene, a school teacher in Florida was fired after he asked his students to write their obituaries. The dismissed teacher was teaching psychology at Dr. Phillips high school in the Orlando area. According to a Guardian report, the assignment did not come with malicious intent. The teacher wanted his students to reflect on their lives as they take part in a shooter drill in the school. The state has been plagued with mass shootings. Hence, gun attack drills have become commonplace.
The 63-year-old teacher assigned it to 11th and 12th graders. Emphasizing that the assignment “isn’t a way to upset you or anything like that. (https://www.disabilityhelpcenter.org) ” “It wasn’t to scare them or make them feel like they were going to die. But just to help them understand what’s important in their lives. And how they want to move forward with their lives. How they want to pursue things in their journey,” explained Keene in a conversation with NBC News.
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The dismissed teacher was hired in January. After being fired, he has no recourse for reversing the termination. “If you can’t talk real to them, then what’s happening in this environment? In my mind, I’ve done nothing wrong,” he stated. He owes not to change his teaching methods and is hoping to find another job. “I don’t think I did anything incorrectly. And I know hindsight is 20/20. I honestly didn’t think a 16, 17, 18-year-old would be offended or upset by talking about something we’re already talking about,” added Keeve.
However, as per an Orange County School District representative, the assignment was “inappropriate.” “Dr. Phillips High School families were informed that a teacher gave an inappropriate assignment about school violence. The administration immediately investigated and the probationary employee has been terminated,” stated the district spokesperson. Moreover, experts believe Governor Ron DeSantis’ new move of making it legal to carry a permit-less concealed weapon in public is going to increase mass shootings and gun violence.