A teacher in the United States has come under criticism after a video of her dancing in the classroom while wearing a Native American headdress went viral.
The masked instructor from North High School wearing head feathers was continuously repeating, “SOH CAH TOA,” a mnemonic for learning trigonometry words, in the video, which was apparently taken by a pupil of Native American heritage.
The school district has placed the instructor on leave after her actions enraged netizens.
The video, which shows the Maths instructor shouting and dancing about the classroom in a fake feathered headdress and was taken by a pupil, has sparked debate over cultural appropriation and prejudice, with even local politicians getting involved.
Akalei Brown of @corn maiden designs stated on Instagram while posting the horrific video, “After several minutes of the teacher ‘war hooping & tomahawk chopping’, the student began filming because he, ‘felt that violence was being committed against him and he had the right to record’.”
“I am sharing this video because these behaviors can no longer be swept under the rug! As adults, we must stand up for our youth!” Brown went on to say that the kid who videotaped it, “outwardly identifies as Native American” but did not name him.
The event occurred at John W. North High School in Riverside, California, urging others to share the video widely and take action, according to the post.
As per Brown, “We need to end abuse & discrimination against indigenous youth in schools! There is no excuse for this type of behavior. We’re not in the 1960s anymore, she should know better.”
Here’s the link to the video:
View this post on Instagram
Many people condemned the teacher’s “tone deaf” acts, calling them unsettling and accusing her of being “insensitive” when the video went viral.
As per the media, Democratic Assembly members Sabrina Cervantes and Jose Medina, who represent parts of Riverside County, and James C. Ramos, who lives on the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino County, issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning the teacher’s actions.
Ramos is the first California Native American to be elected to the state Assembly. He is a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe.
Ramos stated, “It is damaging and disheartening to see Native American and Indigenous culture represented in such a trite and insensitive way.”
He added, “We need to ensure that students learn about themselves in positive, accurate, and appropriate ways.”
.@AsmCervantes, @AsmJamesRamos, and I released the following statement on the incident at John W. North High School in Riverside. pic.twitter.com/Kmw78ptDX2
— Jose Medina (@AsmJoseMedina) October 21, 2021
Following the reaction, the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) made a statement in the case, emphasizing that the teacher’s actions do not reflect the district’s beliefs, according to the media.
The RUSD statement said, “These behaviors are completely unacceptable and an offensive depiction of the vast and expansive Native American cultures and practices.”
They added, “The teacher has been placed on leave while the district conducts an investigation.”
They further stated that “We are deeply committed to implementing inclusive practices and policies that honor the rich diversity of our district and the greater region. We will be working with our students, families, staff, and community to regain your trust.”
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