Mesa Public Schools said it is looking into the incident.
On Tuesday, the teacher told 12News they dressed up that way for Halloween spirit week. The teacher explained that the theme was “dynamic duos” and that a teacher next door dressed as an angel.
“Participating in spirit weeks is a way for me to connect with my students and make class fun,” the teacher said. “It’s honestly nothing more than that.”
However, Hamlet said he felt insulted by the costume due to his religious beliefs.
“I said, ‘Don’t do that to me,’ and I pushed [the pitchfork] away maybe three or four times, but he kept doing it,” Hamlet said.
Nathaniel then told his father, Chris Hamlet, a former Mesa school board candidate, about what happened. Chris said he reported it to the school’s principal.
“I was really upset because I’m a Christian too,” Chris Hamlet said. “The main issue for me is, the teacher kept doing it even when my son asked him to stop.”
The next day, Nathaniel said the teacher was not in class and hasn’t returned since. Mesa Public Schools said the teacher is now on paid administrative leave.
A spokesperson for Mesa Public Schools gave 12News a statement on the incident:
“Mesa Public Schools administration was notified of the alleged incident late Wednesday afternoon. Our Human Resources department started investigating Thursday morning and put the teacher on paid leave. The investigation is still ongoing.”
Some parents picking up their kids from school on Monday told 12News that while they don’t agree with what the teacher did, they feel that firing him might be too extreme.
Girl Strolls Through Supermarket with Mom, Spots Her ‘Missing’ Photo on Milk Carton – Story of the Day
Mia, 14, wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who she is, only knowing her name. A woman claiming to be her mother, Laura, arrives and takes her home, despite the nurse’s advice to stay longer. Mia feels something is off but goes along with it.
At Laura’s house, Mia notices odd details, like the baby photos in her room. When she sees her own photo on a milk carton labeled “MISSING” at the supermarket, she becomes even more suspicious. She memorizes the number on the carton and secretly calls it, learning from a frantic woman that she was kidnapped and her real parents have been searching for her.
Laura catches Mia making the call and locks her in the basement. Mia discovers medical notes revealing Laura’s delusional belief that Mia is her deceased daughter. She manipulates Laura into letting her out by pretending to accept her as her mother.
Once free, Mia escapes but is pursued by Laura. A police officer arrives just in time to subdue Laura and reunite Mia with her real parents. Mia finally feels safe, knowing she is back with her true family.
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