WA:Students asked to plan 'terror attack'

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2010
WA:Students asked to plan 'terror attack'

Western Australia's Education Department chief has apologised after a high school teacher
set students an assignment to plan a terrorist attack.

Director General SHARYN O'NEIL says the teacher had exercised poor judgment and is remorseful.

The society and environment teacher at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School
asked Year 10 students to pretend they were a terrorist planning a chemical or biological
attack on an unsuspecting Australian community.

The assignment was withdrawn immediately and the teacher counselled following a complaint
made to the school after one 15-year-old student refused to do it.

Ms O'NEILL also offered her deepest sympathy to families of victims of terrorism who
may have been offended by the assignment.

The issue dominated talkback radio in Perth today with calls ranging from suggestions
the teacher be jailed .. to others expressing support.

AAP RTV anr/ldj/dcc/crh

KEYWORD: SCHOOL (PERTH)

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