Suicide note homework prompts outcry from parents

A SECONDARY school has been forced to apologise after an English teacher asked students to draft a suicide note for homework as part of a module on Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth.

More than 60 pupils at Thomas Tallis school, in 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.

Having conspired with her husband to murder King Duncan, Lady Macbeth commits suicide by “self and violent hands” after being driven mad by guilt and violent imagery of his murder.

However, the decision has caused outrage among parents, some of whom claimed their children had been personally affected by the issue.

One mother heavily criticised Thomas Tallis for its lack of sensitivity. She said her daughter had been told to write the note – despite having lost three friends to suicide.

She added that her daughter had become “very distressed” over the issue, and had told the teacher in question that such material made her feel uncomfortable.

“My daughter had had personal experience with people her age committing suicide,” she added. “On what universe was it ever, under any situation, a good idea to ask a group of teenagers to write suicide notes?”

Other parents described the decision as “disgusting”, “insensitive” and “ill-conceived” given the age of the students involved.

Carolyn Roberts, the school’s head, said: “I met with the parents last week and apologised wholeheartedly on behalf of the school and reassured them about the actions that have been taken.”