Utah junior high school asks students to draw 'terrorism propaganda poster'

(KUTV) A group of parents in Salem, Utah are angry when they learned their children were handed an assignment this week that required them to draw a "terrorism propaganda poster."

"We're grateful when parents have a concern, that they will call the school and let the principal know immediately," said Lana Hiskey, a spokeswoman for Salem Junior High School. "There were just over 60 students involved in this assignment and we've had four phone calls or communication with parents that had concerns."

The front page of the project lists "eight reasons why young Muslims join ISIS". The back page requires students to then draw a "terrorism propaganda poster."

"She was just very enthusiastic and wanted students to understand that propaganda is not good," said Hiskey, who admitted it was a first-year teacher and the assignment had not been approved.

2News got a phone call from an anonymous parent who was concerned that his 14-year-old son, who received the assignment, would research terrorist propaganda online and end up on a federal terrorist watch list.

"We don't want students going on the internet and looking up terrorist things," said Hiskey. "This was a classroom project and it's been withdrawn and she's talked to the students and let them know that was not the intent."

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