A math teacher at a California high school left parents outraged after he ordered his students to either come out as gay or lesbian during an activity.
Freshmen at Rancho Buena Vista High School were participating in an elective seminar class designed to teach them how to be socially current when they were given a diversity, equity and inclusion exercise last month.
But the teenagers – and their parents – never could have expected what the assignment would entail.
Students were given the following instructions: ‘Stand in a circle. Each of you is now gay or lesbian, and you are about to begin your coming out process. You cannot talk for the rest of this activity’.
The assignment prompted seven students to walk out of the classroom.
‘Very uncomfortable,’ James Leon, whose daughter is in the class, told NBC San Diego.
‘She told me right away when she got home,’ he added. ‘She said, “Dad, you have to hear this.”‘
The activity landed the teacher along with the school district directly in hot waters after it was shared to social media.
A math teacher at Rancho Buena Vista High School in California outraged parents after he ordered his students to come out as gay or lesbian during a diversity, equity and inclusion exercise last month
The activity landed the teacher and the school in hot waters after James Leon, a father of one of the students (pictured), posted the instructions – which his daughter took a photo of before walking out of the classroom – to Instagram
The exercise was part of a freshmen elective seminar class which is designed to teach students how to be socially current
Leon posted the assignment details to Instagram earlier this month after his daughter snapped a photo of the instructions plastered on the classroom smart board before walking out.
‘These are the types of activities being put on our children in public schools,’ the caption read. ‘My daughter told the teacher Hell no!!!!! Then proceeded to walk out of the classroom.’
‘I am beyond pissed!’ the post added. ‘I have since spoken to the high school and the VP assured me that this isn’t part of the curriculum.’
The post has since accumulated hundreds of comments from enraged parents and viewers who expressed their anger and shock over the situation.
‘This doesn’t belong in any classroom, not even sure where it belongs, but definitely not a classroom,’ one viewer wrote. ‘How incredibly uncomfortable.’
Another comment read: ‘What is the school’s reprimand? #nuts.’
‘This situation is so infuriating, I don’t want this being “taught” in my kids’ classrooms. Ever,’ wrote another. ‘My son is a senior at RBV. My stomach is in knots thinking about the last three school years there and what he may or may not have been exposed to without my consent.’
‘This teacher should never be working with anyone’s kids regardless of age. This is sick,’ said another.
Leon’s outrage prompted him to send an email to the principal – demanding to know what actions are going to be taken against the teacher and informing him that he’ll be complaining at the next school board meeting.
‘This is insane. This is sick and twisted,’ he wrote. ‘There is not a single curriculum that supports this and many friends of mine who are LGBT are disgusted by this.’
The father then shared the principal’s response to Instagram, which read: ‘I am busy with family obligations this week, and I wanted to respond to your concern immediately, at the very least via email.’
‘We understand that sexual education discussions can be sensitive and appreciate your involvement,’ it added.
‘When your daughter returns to school, she can complete the alternative assignment.’
The school hosted their regularly scheduled board meeting this past Tuesday where Leon fulfilled his promise of speaking directly to the board himself.
But in a shocking turn of events, four San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies in two zone cars pulled up to the meeting on a ‘preserve the peace call’ – something that regular attendees said had never happened before.
The father shared the email response he received from the principal after he called the situation ‘sick and twisted’
Leon emailed the principal demanding to know what actions are going to be taken against the teacher and informing him that he’ll be complaining at the next school board meeting
After waiting for the board to finish voting on new positions for themselves for more than an hour, Leon stood in front of a full room as he spoke into a microphone about the events that transpired the month before – all while the officers stood against the wall.
‘I don’t see how this is part of the California curriculum for education,’ he told the board members. ‘There is nothing that it does other than groom children.’
‘It’s not okay, it’s disgusting, and it should not be allowed. I don’t think this assignment should ever be taught.’
Despite initially being told by the vice principal that the assignment was not part of the school’s curriculum, he noted how he’d received a contradicting email and phone call shortly later – confirming that the specific activity was in fact part of the curriculum.
Leon, who shared how public speaking wasn’t his ‘forte’, posted his speech to Instagram and was met with dozens of comments praising him for sticking up for his daughter.
Yet he wasn’t the only one who spoke at the meeting – a district bus driver took to the podium to vouch for the frustrated father.
‘I am totally disgusted,’ she said. ‘I am ashamed I work for the district and you guys allow this to happen in our schools.’
But not everyone in attendance was against the exercise. A fellow teacher spoke in support of the activity and the school.
Shockingly, four San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies in two zone cars pulled up to the meeting Tuesday evening on a ‘preserve the peace call’
‘I don’t see how this is part of the California curriculum for education. There is nothing that it does other than groom children,’ Leon said at the board meeting
Leon shared a text from a source inside the district Wednesday morning which urged him to forbid his daughter from meeting with the superintendent without a parent present
‘People with no connection to our community or even our state have started to flood RBV social media accounts with additional unfounded accusations and slanderous statements,’ he said.
Leon has since been posting regular videos to his Instagram profile responding to some hate comments surrounding his daughter being ‘sensitive’.
His daughter has since returned to class and was offered an alternative assignment – but the heated debate seems to be far from over.
Leon noted how he has a scheduled meeting with Matt Doyle, the District Superintendent, after the holidays.
But he received a text from someone relaying a message from a source inside the district – urging the father to forbid his daughter from meeting with Doyle without a parent present.
The message read: ‘I speak from experience, unfortunately. Her story will be manipulated, changed or altered to meet the needs of the district.’
‘She may be asked to keep it quiet for her safety or other reasons,’ it added. ‘Or, they will put it off and never meet with her hoping it all goes away.’
He shared the message to Instagram on Wednesday morning with the caption: ‘This district is corrupt!! They manipulate children! This needs to end! Leave our kids alone!!’
Whether the district will impose consequences on the math teacher or not is still unknown.
DailyMail.com has approached representatives of the school and teachers involved for comment.
