T-shirts — covered in fake blood and bearing the words “Problem Solved” — have sent outrage through the Cienega High School community after a group of math teachers wore the matching garb to class as Halloween costumes.
Some parents contended in social media posts that the shirts were a reference to the Sept. 10 killing of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, who was shot in the left side of his neck in front of a crowd of supporters in Utah.
The shirts, blood-soaked down the left side, drew the attention of angry residents who found the costumes distasteful and political in nature, according to posts showing the group of teachers posing together in the outfits.
But Vail School District Superintendent John Carruth said the shirts, available for purchase all over the web, were bought and worn last year as well, long before Kirk’s death.
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“These shirts were worn both this and last year as part of math-themed Halloween costumes and were not intended as a reference to any person, event, or political issue,” said Carruth, superintendent of the district on the Tucson area’s southeast side.
The Halloween costume was “meant to represent solving tough math problems,” he said. “Any reference that these shirts were related to something other than that are simply false and untrue.”
A group of Vail teachers posing in the T-shirts.
On X, one commenter said that her husband “honors and loves Charlie (Kirk) and he wore (the shirt) this week.” She mentioned that he purchased the shirt last year on TEMU, an online store.
Others, however, said the teachers’ actions were unprofessional.
“As a teacher myself, I was absolutely appalled by that photo of those folks wearing blood-like patterned T-shirts,” a poster wrote. “Irrespective of your political views and convictions, you must remain professional and impartial. In my classes, I never allow myself even a single political comment.”
Carruth apologized for the concern and upset the situation has caused the community, but said the behavior exhibited toward the participating teachers has reached a point of concern, as well. The character of the educators has been called into question, and some have been targeted online as a result of the “misunderstanding,” he said.
“Personal attacks or threats against staff are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of our community,” he said.
It appears that Carruth’s statement has been since deleted off the district’s Facebook page.
But in an email sent later Saturday to the Vail district community, Carruth said: “The teachers involved care deeply about their students and this community. Many have served Vail families for years. All of them are committed to protecting children, and none of them would intentionally cause hurt or pain. They too are truly sorry that this has caused concerns. The shirts will not be worn again. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from this experience and ask for your grace as we do so.”
Some were not buying Carruth’s explanation.
“There’s a difference between being clever and being crude, and this missed the mark entirely,” a reader posted. “If this is what passes for creativity in the math department, maybe they should recalculate their sense of appropriateness.
“The timing, the imagery, the slogan — none of it adds up. And the fact that the district is defending it instead of acknowledging how tone-deaf it looks? That’s the real problem that needs solving.”