A Colorado teacher has been suspended after he reportedly allowed students to hit a piñata with President Donald Trump’s face on it.
The piñata bashing was part of a Spanish class’ Cinco de Mayo celebration at Roosevelt High School in Johnstown, according to 9News.com.
Social media photos show a piñata tied to a tree. On one side is a photo of Trump, on the other is Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.
Students were filmed bashing the piñata while blindfolded.
A parent named Lesley Hollywood saw the photos and was offended by the activity. She griped about it on social media, making sure to let others know she wasn’t a fan of the president, but adding, “I’d be outraged by this if it was Obama or Bush or Clinton.”
Hollywood also took up the issue with officials from the Johnstown-Milliken School District.
“It is disturbing that this would be happening in a school setting,” Hollywood told CBS Denver. “Why divide people? Why do this? There are so many other ways we can address politics in schools.”
The school district agreed with Hollywood and placed the unnamed Spanish teacher on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
School Superintendent Martin Foster also addressed the incident on Facebook, saying that it “was an incredibly disrespectful act that does not reflect the values of Roosevelt High School or the school district.”
After the teacher’s suspension was announced, the school was closed on Monday because of a threat on social media, according to the Coloradoan newspaper.
Officials wouldn’t say if the threat had anything to do with the piñata issue, just that classes and all activities were canceled Monday as a precaution and to give police time to investigate the situation.
Classes and other activities resumed Tuesday with an increased police presence at the school, according to Reuters.
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