Math teacher’s INSANE lesson goes viral.
A student’s video of a Riverside teacher with a faux Native American headdress dancing in front of her class has gone viral and sparked criticism on social media of the instructor.
In the video, which hit social media Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 20, the teacher — now placed on leave — appears to be sharing with students the word “SohCahToa,” a mnemonic device used to help remember advanced mathematics concepts. Numerous social media posts blast the teacher’s behavior as racially insensitive toward Native Americans, with some calling for her firing.
A Thursday morning, Oct. 21, statement from the Riverside Unified School District confirms the video is from the district and decries the teacher’s lesson.
District spokesperson Diana Meza said the video shows a female math teacher at John W. North High School, who was teaching trigonometry.
“Obviously this video has gone viral,” Meza said. “It’s not who we are as a district, nor as a school … RUSD prides itself on valuing diversity and equity.”
Meza declined to name the teacher, citing the privacy of personnel matters. The instructor has been placed on leave, and the district has launched an investigation, Meza said.
