Students asked to plan 'terror attack'

The terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York in 2001 still resonate strongly, almost a decade on. File photo

PERTH - Maybe their next assignment should be "define inappropriate".

Parents of students at a West Australian high school who were asked to plan a terrorist attack are appalled that the teacher could suggest such a thing.

The students were asked to plan an attack on Australian soil that would kill as many innocent people as possible - as part of an assignment.

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 West Australian newspaper has reported.

"Your goal is to kill the MOST innocent civilians in order to get your message across," the assignment said.

The students had to explain their choice of victims and decide the best time and place for their attack.

Fifteen-year-old student Sarah Gilbert said she was horrified to get the assignment because if that sort of thing was found in your house you'd be arrested.

"But there is a difference between being a terrorist and learning about terrorism - it's two completely different things," she told The West Australian.

Sarah's mother Tania told the newspaper the assignment was doubly offensive because a member of her extended family had been killed in the 2002 Bali bombings.

Principal Terry Martino agreed the assignment was inappropriate, saying he had the task withdrawn as soon as he was aware of its content.

"The teacher, who is relatively inexperienced, made a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to engage the students in an assignment on contemporary conflict and how beliefs and values influence the behaviours and motives of individuals," Mr Martino told the paper.

"Students were reminded that in no way was the teacher promoting terrorism and that if they chose not to complete the assignment they would not be disadvantaged."

- AAP