02:20 PM PDT on Saturday, May 15, 2004

By ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News

KING The teachers are apologetic they showed the video in class.

TACOMA, Wash. – Two teachers at Washington High School in Parkland are on paid administrative leave. They are accused of showing the videotaped beheading of Nick Berg to students in class.

According to the school district, the students viewed the downloaded clip during the fourth and sixth period at Washington High School.

The district superintendent said he is appalled and apologetic.

"We discovered that that person had sent the video clip to another teacher, and through the investigation we have discovered between 24 and 26 students actually saw either the entire clip or parts of the clip," said Dr. Steve Rasmussen, superintendent.

Rasmussen said following the incident, he sent out an e-mail to staff members in the district forbidding downloading or viewing the video.

He said he believes the two teachers were just curious and are now sorry and very apologetic about the incident.

Similar incidents are popping up in schools across the country. In San Diego in two separate high schools, teachers tried to use the footage as a teaching tool.

In an e-mail to KING 5, one parent said: "As a parent, I want the right to decide when and if my kids see it. And my choice is no."

"I think the teachers should keep in mind where they're at and something like that shouldn't be exposed to children," said Jim Johnson, parent.

According to the district, the teacher has been in the district for two years, the teacher's aide has been there for 5 or 6 years. They are on administrative leave pending an investigation.