A male Wake teacher wore a tutu for Spirit Week last year. Why critics are now upset
A Wake County middle school is standing by a male teacher who has drawn criticism from some parents and conservative groups for wearing a skirt on campus during Spirit Week last year.
Multiple social media posts have sprung up since Saturday showing a photo of a male seventh-grade teacher standing in a hallway at Martin Middle School in Raleigh wearing what some people have described as a tutu. The school district says the photo is related to a Spirit Week activity that occurred last year.
During Spirit Week, students and teachers often wear different outfits based on the theme of the day.
For “Barbenheimer” on Oct. 17, 2023, students and teachers were encouraged to wear pink or black or dress like they were from the 1940s. The theme was inspired by the movies “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”
“I have found that (the teacher’s) dress complies with policy and does not distract from the work that is done in the classroom and is in accordance with health and safety standards,” Marla Mondora, Martin’s principal, wrote in a Oct. 11 letter to a parent after the teacher’s attire was questioned.
Some call teacher’s attire ‘perverse’
Some groups have called on the school system to remove the teacher.
“It’s delusional. It’s confusing for the children to think this is OK — it’s NOT,” Allen Mashburn, a conservative commentator and former Republican candidate for North Carolina lieutenant governor, said in a post Saturday on X, previously called Twitter.
Mashburn urged people to contact the school board to “demand that they stop grooming our kids.”
Moms for Liberty is asking people to speak out about the situation at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
“@wcpss thinks this is ok. . . a male teacher wearing a young girl’s tutu,’ the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty posted Saturday on x. “Not professional. Its perverse. Would u want this 7th grade #wcpss teacher around your 11-13 YO?”
Last year, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled Moms for Liberty as an “anti-government extremist group.”
The initial complaint made to the school was from Jessica Lewis, the vice president of the Wake County chapter of Moms for LIberty.
The photo went viral when Libs of TikTok posted it Monday on X. The conservative group’s post drew 700 reposts and 1,600 likes in less than hour.
Teacher responds to criticism
The News & Observer did not originally publish the teacher’s name. But the teacher, Adam Chu, gave The N&O permission to use his name.
Chu wrote in an email to The N&O that he wore the tutu to Barbenheimer Day during Spirit Week. The photo that’s now on social media originally appeared in last year’s school yearbook in the Spirit Week section.
Chu said he’s been assured his job is not in jeopardy.
“I agree with the Moms for Liberty that I was totally not pulling off the tutu,” Chu said. “Not my best look. This is what I get for trying something new.
“Tell them to hit me up if they have any advice for how to improve my fashion, besides staying away from tutus. Heard that one loud and clear.”
An ‘inclusive’ learning environment
Mondora, the principal at Martin, referred an email Monday from The N&O to the school district. But in her Oct. 11 letter, Mondora told Lewis she had investigated the issue.
Mondora said she found no violation of the district’s Employee Dress Code and Appearance Policy. According to the policy, “all personnel will be professionally, neatly, and appropriately attired for the work to be done,”
The policy also says “an employee’s dress must not disrupt or distract from the educational process or work environment and must be in accordance with health and safety standards.
“He does not wear clothing that has inappropriate illustrations, advertisements or messages,” Mondora wrote. “Mr. Chu does dress in accordance with the district’s policy for employee dress and appearance.”
Mondora also rejected a request from Lewis to remove her daughter from Chu’s class.
“You stated that you did not want (the student) around Mr. Chu because the perception you have of him does not align with your family values,” Mondora wrote. “We were to create a learning environment that is inclusive of all students and staff.”
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 5:06 PM.
