A teacher based in Florida was criticized after encouraging students to write their obituaries before an active shooter drill.
After being made aware of the drill on Monday, Jeffrey Keene, a psychology teacher at Dr. Phillips High School, instructed his 11th and 12th-grade students to write the obituaries on Tuesday morning during first period.
However, Keene, 63, said he didn’t have any ill intentions when he gave the controversial assignment and recalled telling his 35 students, “This isn’t a way to upset you or anything like that,” per NBC News.
“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 and how they want to pursue things in their journey,” he explained.
When second period came around, Keene said that the students from the previous class were telling him school officials had interviewed them about the assignment.
This resulted in Keene being fired that same day after being hired at the beginning of the year.
Still, Keene made it clear that he doesn’t regret his decision.
“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.
The district spokesman spoke out about the incident in a statement, saying, “Dr. Phillips High School families were informed that a teacher gave an inappropriate assignment about school violence. Administration immediately investigated and the probationary employee has been terminated.”
Keene revealed he plans on teaching again and would still give the same assignment.
“I don’t think I did anything incorrectly,” he expressed. “I know hindsight is 20/20 but 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.”
According to Fox 35 News, Keene said he will appeal his termination.
