HERMISTON, Ore. — A northeastern Oregon school district says an extra-curricular "zombie survival skills" class at a middle school is no more. It has been replaced by an "exploratory reading class."

The Hermiston School District announced the change Wednesday for Armand Larive Middle School.

According to the East Oregonian, Superintendent Fred Maiocco says he was unaware of the zombie class until he read a newspaper article about its popularity.

Maiocco says he "couldn't believe that would actually be a class."

Some parents had questioned the educational value of the class and worried about violent subject matter. Social studies teacher Rich Harshberger told the newspaper his class focused mainly on survival skills and included both a reading and writing component. He'll be teaching the new reading class.

-- The Associated Press