Teacher Has Kids Write About Whom They'd Murder

Teacher Has Kids Write About Whom They'd Murder
District, Teacher Apologize For Mistake

POSTED: 8:33 am EDT May 15, 2006

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- A Missouri high school teacher has apologized for asking students to write about whom they would kill and how they would do it.

He said it was a horrible mistake he regrets.

Michael Maxwell said the request to describe how students would carry out a murder was merely a writing exercise. Maxwell teaches a beginning drafting class and it's not clear why he asked the class to write fiction.

School officials in St. Joseph said the teacher will likely keep his job.

"He's an exemplary person ... this is very out of character," the principal said.

Administrators found out about the writing request when a parent filed a complaint with the principal. A school district spokesman isn't commenting on possible disciplinary measures, but said the incident probably isn't serious enough to cost Maxwell his job.

About 25 to 30 students from ninth through 12th grades were in the class.