Wayne County school angers parents with impromptu gun lesson

GOLDSBORO (WTVD) -- Eastern Wayne Middle School students were terrified when they were told there was an armed robber in the school with a mask and a handgun Friday. However, they quickly learned it was all part of a school lesson.

Nonetheless, some parents are not happy with the exercise and school officials admit it was a bad move.

In a letter that was sent home to parents, the school said it was part of enrichment exercise trying to teach kids to be aware of their surroundings. A school employee dressed up in a ski mask and carrying a fake gun pretended to be a robber.

The school system admits - in light of the school shootings making headlines around the country - they should have been more sensitive.

"It obviously did lack that sensitivity that was needed...all of our schools work very hard to promote a safe learning environment...in this situation, the exercise in its original intent was appropriate, but in how it was executed it obviously lacked judgment," said Ken Derksen, Public Information Officer with the Wayne County Public Schools.

The school system said they received a few phone calls from concerned parents regarding the incident. They said an investigation is ongoing into exactly what happened and the employee dressed up as the armed robber could be facing disciplinary action.

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