That lesson? Never trust a man who has to eat a rodent to prove a point.

Police were investigating a May 11 incident involving an instructor, surnamed Yu, 44, at a South Korean boarding facility who bit a hamster until it died, and then swallowed it in front of children.

According to police, the instructor realized that some of the children were teasing the hamsters, and he decided to teach the children a lesson by eating the hamster. Apparently, the instructor wanted to teach the children “how dear life is.” 

What does that even mean?

Seven children saw Yu eat the hamster, and while many parents were filing police reports, he stands by his unusual teaching method.

“I couldn’t control the situation and couldn’t stand it…While watching the hamsters die from teasing, I thought I should teach the children it was wrong to make light of life,” he said.

Yu appeared at Jeongeup Police Station and admitted his act. Police booked him, without physical detention, for child abuse. He is also known to have used abusive language in front of the children, and many parents claim that the teachers at the school tried to cover up the incident by telling the children not to tell anyone outside the facility.

But did you really trust a school full of children to keep a secret about a man who ate the class pet?