RIVERDALE PARK, Md. (AP) — Prince George’s County school administrators are investigating allegations that an English teacher made derogatory comments about Muslims.

The teacher tells The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/1nt60jI ) that he didn’t say anything derogatory and that a classroom discussion was “blown out of proportion.”

Students at Parkdale High School reported the conversation to school officials and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy group. They reported that teacher Anthony Fonebi told the students that “Muslims are dangerous. They are terrorists and they will kill you.”

Fonebi says he’s surprised that a complaint was filed and that he was trying to turn a discussion about Muslims into a “teachable moment.” He says he was trying to make a point that Muslims are wrongly portrayed as terrorists.

___

Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.