Students asked to write suicide note

An English teacher in a secondary school in London asked students to write a suicide note for their homework as part of their course on Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth.

Over 60 students at Thomas Tallis school, Kidbrooke, London were asked to pen a final note to their loved ones after reading one of the play’s most celebrated scenes, when Lady Macbeth takes her own life, the Daily Telegraph reported.

This has caused an outrage among the parents. Some claimed that their children were personally affected by the issue. One mother said her daughter  had been told to write the note despite having lost three friends to suicide. “My daughter had had personal experience with people her age committing suicide. On what universe was it ever, under any situation, a good idea to ask a group of teenagers to write suicide notes?” she asked.

Other parents said the decision was “absolutely disgusting” and “insensitive.” One of them claimed the assignment was “ill-conceived given the age of the students involved”.

The school has apologised to the parents. Headmistress of the school, Caroyln Roberts, told Daily Telegraph said she met the parents and “apologised wholeheartedly on behalf of the school and reassured them about the actions that have been taken”.