Publisher speaks out following magazine controversy over Parkland shooting

PHOENIX (KSAZ) -- A magazine quiz has sparked controversy in Florida over its mentioning of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

According to FOX News, students at Coral Glades High School were handed a 10-question quiz on Friday that focused on the death penalty. The quiz mentions Nikolas Cruz, who was arrested in connection with the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The shooting, which happened on February 14, killed 17 people.

Coral Glades High School, according to Google Maps, is about 5 miles south of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

On his verified Twitter page, Cameron Kasky, who calls himself a founder of March For Our Lives, tweeted out the quiz in question.



The quiz had the title "Does Nikolas Cruz Deserve To Die?", and is listed as having been published in an issue of The New York Times Upfront. Scholastic describes the publication as a current events magazine published for 9th to 12th grade students.

In a statement, a Scholastic Inc. spokesperson said the quiz was published in the New York Times Upfront magazine's October 8 issue, and was intended only to "provide a platform for meaningful conversations around the history, civics and social impact of the death penalty."

"We deeply regret if the use of this real life example added in any way to the ongoing suffering of the students, families and educators of the Parkland community," wrote Anne Sparkman, Vice President of Corporate Communications with Scholastic Inc.

Officials with Coral Glades High School said they were unaware that the assignment was distributed to students, and they have since pulled the assignment.