After teacher’s anti-Trump rant in classroom, Moreno Valley school district places him on leave
The Moreno Valley Unified School District placed a history teacher on leave after he gave a profanity-filled lecture to his students about Donald Trump the day after the former president won a second term.
The Valley View High School history teacher called Trump a “rapist draft-dodging coward” during an emotionally distraught lecture on Wednesday, according to a recording of the lecture that was posted to X by a conservative commentator.
For the record:
5:40 p.m. Nov. 12, 2024An earlier version of this article included a photo of Moreno Valley High School. The teacher who was put on leave works at Valley View High.
The teacher — whom the district has not publicly identified — told his students that Black and Latino voters did not support Kamala Harris because she has “a vagina and uterus” and that Latino voters who support Trump want to be white.
“This sh— is not a f— game,” the teacher told his students. “Can you end up with no human rights? Yes. Will it happen to you? Most likely not. Which is a good thing, but has Donald Trump quoted Hitler? Yes. Does he embody some of Hitler’s ideas? Yes.”
A spokesperson with the Moreno Valley Unified School District said the teacher was placed on administrative leave pending a review of the incident.
The English-only rule was put in place after someone overheard two employees speaking Spanish at work.
“We were recently made aware of an incident at one of our high schools, in which a staff member’s discussion about the election results turned unprofessional,” the statement said. “We do not condone the behavior that occurred, and an immediate investigation has been launched. We recognize the heightened emotions surrounding the current political climate, and we deeply value the diversity of our community, which encompasses a wide range of perspectives and beliefs. Our goal is to foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment that supports all students.”
The district did not identify the staff member by name.
A petition on Change.org to reinstate the teacher, referred to as Mr. Perez, has more than 1,200 signatures in support of him returning to class. The school’s website lists a Maximiliano Perez as an Advanced Placement teacher. The Times was unable to confirm the identity of the teacher placed on leave, however.
The teacher’s union representing employees from the Moreno Valley Unified School District did not respond to requests for comment about the teacher’s status, and the teacher could not be immediately reached for comment.
At least two students who spoke to news station KABC said they understood their teacher’s lecture was meant to frame the election results and he apologized to several students after class.
“I think they’re trying to make him seem like a bad guy because of what he said,” student Mykael James told the news station. She was in class during her teacher’s lecture. “I know it was very strong toned, but that’s how he gives his lecture as a professor.”
“It’s just devastating to know that they’re trying to get him out all because of his opinion,” student Sarah Ghawi told the news station.
Students plan a walkout in protest of the school district’s decision this week.
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