“Where is freedom of expression? Everything he said was true,” is Suzy’s comment, while Mayra also questions: What happened to freedom of expression? “He was just doing his job.”
“Let’s support him,” adds Israel in the petition launched by students from Moreno Valley High School, in support of teacher Maximiliano Pérez, who made a strong criticism in his AP World History class, after the election of President Donald Trump.
The Moreno Valley Unified School District in San Bernardino County placed Perez on leave, who apparently used strong vocabulary during class in front of his students.
The teacher allegedly told his African American and Latino students that they did not support Kamala Harris because she is a woman, has a “vagina and a uterus”; Furthermore, Latino voters who support Trump want to be white.
A day after the election, the teacher also called Trump a “cowardly rapist who evades mandatory military service,” according to the video posted on platform X, by conservative commentator Corey A. DeAngelis.
In the class environment, Pérez asked questions to reflect: Can they end up without human rights? Yes. Will it happen to you? Most likely not. Which is good, but has Donald Trump quoted Hitler? Yes. Does it embody some of Hitler’s ideas? Yeah”.
Director’s letter
On the social network Instagram, the letter sent to parents by the school was published, which says:
“Dear Mr. Pérez, AP World History Class.
The administration was informed that yesterday, during class, the topic of the election results came up and became hot. We want to thank those who reached out to express their concerns as we strive to create a strong and welcoming environment for all.
While we expect conversations about politics and political viewpoints to be discussed in AP World History class, we also expected to be respectful.
We do not condone the behavior that was exhibited in class yesterday. And we thank those who brought it to our attention to address that issue. We are lucky to live in a diverse area, with different points of view and beliefs.
But I think that’s what makes not only Valley View High School and our community special, but also our nation.
As educators, we understand that we play a uniquely influential role in guiding students on a journey of discovery.
Our goal is to provide a balanced environment where all students feel safe to ask questions, research from trusted sources, engage in respectful dialogue, and ultimately form their own judgment regarding beliefs.
If you or your child have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call.”
The letter was signed by Valley View High School Principal Chris Gilliat on Nov. 7.
Teacher support grows
As of press time, a Change.org petition to reinstate Professor Pérez has garnered more than 1,700 signatures.
The petition states: “At Valley View High School, Mr. Perez was considered one of the best teachers on campus and also one of the kindest. To be fair, on Friday, November 8, Perez had an unprofessional moment and spoke about the recent 2024 election and his deep disappointment over Donald J. Trump’s victory.
Now, if any other teacher had done this, a minor suspension would be expected, but as an AP World Teacher, he would be expected to cover the elections in some way.
Mr. Perez’s actions were very unprofessional and we are not defending what he did here. We are defending the life of a man and also the safety and security of the students/teachers at Valley View High School.
On the same day, this tweet was written by Corey A. DeAngelis, a right-wing commenter on district and the amount of money Mr. Pérez and Moreno Valley School District Superintendent Alejandro Ruvalcaba earn.
This directly puts them in danger.
Now, anyone can find this school and directly harass us all. Mr. Perez will most likely never find a job as an educator again due to negative media coverage (which isn’t even true).
Student request
Bringing Mr. Perez back as a teacher at Valley View Middle School
Have equal punishments for all teachers, regardless of political origin.
Listen to students and their wants/needs.
Parents not related to the school district joined in defense of the teacher:
“The professor only told the truth about everything we have seen and heard about that man. [Donald Trump] “Who attacks Mexicans saying they are criminals and rapists,” said Mercedes Villarán, a 72-year-old Mexican woman who works cleaning houses.
“I am with the teacher, because he has told the truth,” added Mrs. Carmen Lazcano, a housewife who lives in the city of Rosemead.
Preserve democracy
The petition letter and signatures collected on Change.org are literally flooding the site with favorable comments for Professor Pérez.
“Perez is a highly educated man and cares deeply about preserving our country’s fundamental morality and democracy.
It is disheartening to see how the media slander him.
He is our district’s only AP World History teacher and a light in the lives of many students. These TEENS, not children, are NOT being verbally abused, bullied or groomed for some leftist agenda.
He’s not crazy, just someone who is passionate about this country and is deeply hurt to see it go backwards in the worst way possible. #FREEPEREZ,” Epic wrote.
John, another signatory of the document, states: “Mr. Pérez is a teacher who has had a significant impact on my education and that of many others.
His teaching methods and dedication to his students have not only improved our academic performance, but have also made us feel genuinely valued and respected in the classroom.
Mr. Pérez has a unique ability to connect with each student on a personal level, understanding our individual strengths and challenges.
Additionally, it fosters an inclusive environment where every student feels heard and supported, which has greatly contributed to our overall growth and confidence.
We have all deeply felt Mr. Pérez’s absence. His return would not only restore the high-quality education we have come to value, but it would also restore the sense of community and mutual respect that he so easily cultivates.
We believe that his presence is indispensable for our academic and personal development and we would greatly appreciate it if you brought him back.”
Questioned about the possible censorship of the electoral districts of a teacher’s freedom of expression, when developing a class, Evelyn Alemán, executive director of Nuestra Voz (Communities for Quality Education) responded that “there are adequate places for free expression, But, in a classroom the teacher has to follow a State curriculum.”
Alemán considered that the absence on administrative leave imposed on teacher Maximiliano Pérez by the Moreno Valley Unified School District was correct.
“If the teacher is not following what he should be teaching in class, then there is a problem,” he said. “He has his right to free expression, but his first duty is to teach students. He is a government employee and that is the role he plays and he has to follow the guidelines that his job indicates, and his opinion has no place there.”
For her part, Mónica García, former president of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), told La Opinión that President Trump was paid to be a rude candidate and has the right to his opinion.
“But, in the case of the teacher, he also has the right to his opinion, but he is being paid to teach and not be rude; Within the class you have to use discipline and the right words, because no one wants our young people to learn to be rude, but rather to be critical of what they see around them.”
Moreno Valley District Response
Alex Sponheim, spokesperson for the Moreno Valley Unified School District, responded to La Opinión that the investigation into Professor Pérez’s comments remains under investigation and they have not determined a time frame for how long it will last.
“As a school district we are reviewing the video and the student testimonies to determine if the incident was against the employee conduct policies,” he indicated, regarding the possible mistakes made by the teacher when he spoke about Donald Trump.
Is the school district violating a teacher’s right to speech?
“Freedom of expression protects when individuals interact as private citizens. When speaking with students as part of their position within a school district, staff must comply with specific board policies and employee conduct. BP 6144: Controversial issues and BP 4119.21: Professional standards,” the spokesperson announced.
Responding to the request for the teacher’s return to the classroom and the call that students make on Change.org, he said: “We encourage all students and families to send an email or schedule an appointment with the principal regarding their concern.” .
“We have families who feel strongly for and against it, and as a school district, we must ensure we listen to all students and families and work to create a strong, inclusive learning environment for all.”