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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Tue Dec 11, 2018, 09:38 AM Dec 2018

'Does Nikolas Cruz Deserve to Die?' asked a reading quiz given to students 10 mins from Parkland...

‘Does Nikolas Cruz Deserve to Die?’ asked a reading quiz given to students 10 minutes from the Parkland shooting

The reading comprehension quiz that accompanied an article titled "Does Nikolas Cruz Deserve to Die?" in the New York Times Upfront magazine, published by Scholastic. (Courtesy of Cameron Kasky) ((Courtesy of Cameron Kasky))

By Meagan Flynn December 11 at 6:24 AM
The reading comprehension quiz, pulled from an issue of the New York Times Upfront magazine, began with typical questions about the death penalty, the day’s civics lesson in a Florida classroom.

Students were asked what the Eighth Amendment prohibits, and what it means to “botch” an execution. But question No. 8 hit a little too close to home: It asked students to describe the “tone” of Parkland shooting survivor Cameron Kasky when he said of the shooting suspect, “Let him rot forever.”

The quiz was titled, “Does Nikolas Cruz Deserve to Die?”

And it was distributed Friday to students at Coral Glades High School — a 10-minute drive from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where police say Cruz killed 17 people on Valentine’s Day in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.

Kasky, for one, was not pleased.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/12/11/does-nikolas-cruz-deserve-die-asked-reading-quiz-given-students-minutes-parkland-shooting/

10 replies

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'Does Nikolas Cruz Deserve to Die?' asked a reading quiz given to students 10 mins from Parkland... (Original Post) DonViejo Dec 2018 OP

Its deep question for sure. To me there are crimes worthy of the death penalty, and this is one beachbum bob Dec 2018 #1

Is there a problem I'm supposed to be seeing? Coventina Dec 2018 #2

Maybe if you read the entire article you'd "see an issue" DonViejo Dec 2018 #3

They should be upset, but not at the assignment. Coventina Dec 2018 #4

I'll side with the students and parents...and what makes you think they are not.... DonViejo Dec 2018 #5

Oh for heaven's sake, why does every thing on DU have to be such a dumb fight? Coventina Dec 2018 #6

Oh, I see, because I disagree with you I'm starting a "dumb fight." DonViejo Dec 2018 #7

You are adorable! Coventina Dec 2018 #8

They're upset? Good! Adrahil Dec 2018 #10

Interesting...I think there are more productive questions to consider Buckeyeblue Dec 2018 #9

beachbum bob

(10,437 posts)

1. Its deep question for sure. To me there are crimes worthy of the death penalty, and this is one

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 09:44 AM

Dec 2018

I don't know if high school kids have enough life experiences to render a judgement

Coventina

(27,120 posts)

2. Is there a problem I'm supposed to be seeing?

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 09:44 AM

Dec 2018

I'm anti-DP, but I don't see an issue with the assignment.

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)

3. Maybe if you read the entire article you'd "see an issue"

Reply to Coventina (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 10:00 AM

Dec 2018

Students and parents are upset.

Coventina

(27,120 posts)

4. They should be upset, but not at the assignment.

Reply to DonViejo (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 10:04 AM

Dec 2018

They should be upset at the NRA and their lackeys in the government.

The assignment is fine.

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)

5. I'll side with the students and parents...and what makes you think they are not....

Reply to Coventina (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 10:07 AM

Dec 2018

also "upset at the NRA and their lackeys in the government"?

Coventina

(27,120 posts)

6. Oh for heaven's sake, why does every thing on DU have to be such a dumb fight?

Reply to DonViejo (Reply #5)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 10:12 AM

Dec 2018

Trying to pretend the Parkland Shooting didn't happen isn't going to make the pain go away.

I think outrage over what seems to be a pretty good, rational approach to the very real problem of the aftermath seems silly to me.

I guess that makes me a monster.

Fine, I'm a monster.

I'm a monster who happens to think the real monsters are in the NRA and everything else is tangential to the problem.

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)

7. Oh, I see, because I disagree with you I'm starting a "dumb fight."

Reply to Coventina (Reply #6)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 10:15 AM

Dec 2018

Please carry on, I'm done trying to chat with you.

Coventina

(27,120 posts)

8. You are adorable!

Reply to DonViejo (Reply #7)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 10:19 AM

Dec 2018

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)

10. They're upset? Good!

Reply to DonViejo (Reply #5)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:25 AM

Dec 2018

The point of the question is to get at the issue of emotion in the death penalty issue. It is often ignored.

Buckeyeblue

(5,499 posts)

9. Interesting...I think there are more productive questions to consider

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Tue Dec 11, 2018, 11:15 AM

Dec 2018

Neither position makes the world a better place. Maybe a better question would be is the occasional mass shooting part of the price we pay for our freedom? And if so, how would you explain that to a victim of a mass shooting?

Or even better: should healthcare be a basic human right?

I'm anti-death penalty. Not because I don't think some people deserve to die, but because our justice system is not just. Prosecutors have unlimited resources and defendants do not.

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