Florida teacher fired after asking students to write their opinion before actual shooting training
Orlando, Florida (WFLA) – A high school teacher in central Florida was fired after asking students to write obituaries before shooting practice.
Jeffrey Keane, a psychology teacher at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, said he was informed about the shooter training on April 3. NBC NewsKeane said that students felt that writing their own obituaries helped them “reflect on their own lives in the school shooting scenario.”
According to NBC NewsKeane gave an assignment to the 11th and 12th grade classes during the first period on April 4th.
He told a class of 35 students: Understand what’s important in life, how you want to move forward in life, and how you want to pursue things in your journey, not to scare them or make them feel like they’re dying It was to help
By the second semester, however, students in his class said they were being interviewed by school administrators about assignments. By the seventh term, the teacher hired in January had been fired.
“If you can’t talk to them real, what’s going on in this environment?” Keane told NBC News. “In my opinion, I have done nothing wrong.”
On Monday, Nexstar’s WFLA reached out to the Orange County School District regarding Keane’s employment status. A school district spokesperson responded by stating that school administrators immediately investigated the situation and “the employee has been terminated.”
“Although the school district has not commented on the employee issue, Dr. Phillips’ family was informed that a teacher had given an inappropriate assignment about school violence,” said Michael, the school district’s media relations manager. Oldendorf said in a statement, “The administration immediately investigated and the employee on probation was fired. Please note that upon completion, you will be a full-time employee in your current position.”
Keane told NBC News that he could not overrule the district’s final decision because he was a new employee and not a union member. The 63-year-old teacher said she plans to look for another teaching position and that she has “vowed not to change anything.”
“I don’t think I did anything wrong,” Keane said. “I know hindsight is 20/20, but honestly, I don’t think a 16-, 17-, or 18-year-old would be offended or upset by talking about something we’ve already talked about. I never thought it would happen.
Keane, who has been teaching since 2008, told the University of Orlando: WOFL He plans to appeal the dismissal.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/florida-teacher-fired-after-asking-students-to-write-their-obits-before-active-shooter-drill/ Florida teacher fired after asking students to write their opinion before actual shooting training