Klein ISD Assignment On Fake News Embarrassing, Teachable Moment

SPRING, TX — An assignment for a Klein Oak High School digital citizenship curriculum on the power of social media and fake news, became a learning experience for students, teachers and staff, when the post gained national attention.

According to Klein ISD officials, a high school teacher made an assignment to illustrate the power of fake news and its potential impact. Students were given the assignment to create a fake news story.

However, one of the students went outside the scope of the assignment with a made-up account naming a Klein ISD employee, officials said in a statement.

The fabricated news piece, which indicated a Klein ISD administrators was facing criminal charges for narcotics and weapons trafficking, was shared repeatedly on social media.

"This post is NOT TRUE," Klein ISD officials said. "Creating and spreading false and defamatory information about someone is illegal and could result in legal action."

Since the student went outside the scope of the assignment, he could face disciplinary action under the district's code of conduct.

District officials said this was a teachable moment that parents could use as a conversation starter with their kids to talk about the power of social media.

"Social media has the ability to connect us in ways we’ve never had before," officials said in a statement. "It is a powerful tool when used for the right reasons. It is just as powerful when used—knowingly or not—irresponsibly. This is the unfortunate power of social media."

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