An eighth-grade history teacher in Osceola County has been reassigned after she used a prop rifle during a lesson.
Some students in Gema Evans' class were surprised when the teacher took out a prop rifle in her Neptune Middle School classroom.
News 96.5 learned that some of the children's parents contacted school leaders and the school resource officer.
A school district representative told Hughes, in an email, that it was reported that the social studies teacher had the rifle in the classroom, but it wasn't capable of firing. It was unclear if it was a real rifle or a plastic rifle.
Parents who spoke with Hughes had mixed reactions.
"I think that's negative. That's not probably supposed to be. I think it's not proper, it's improper to have guns in school," parent Armando Vega said.
"It's just a prop. No big deal. Can't fire, so who's it going to hurt?" parent Maurice Dellafano said.
Last year an eighth-grade student in Osceola County was suspended because he made a gun gesture with his finger.
Jordan Bennett was enrolled at Harmony Community School at the time. His mother fought to clear his record and district officials agreed to do that, after she went to the school board.
A district representative said there is no word on when the investigation into Evans' actions will be complete.
Officials said Evans has been reassigned and will not have contact with students while the investigation is underway.
Sheriff's officials said they took a report following the incident but did not say if there would be an investigation by their office.