Arizona high-school math teachers in the Vail School District are facing viral backlash and even threats against their own safety, after wearing “Problem Solved” Halloween shirts that Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman and Arizona State Representative Rachel Keshel, along with social media influencers, claim were mocking the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
However, the manufactured controversy appears to be backfiring on those who spread it, because the District and teachers have made it clear that they wore the same t-shirts the year before at Halloween, and the shirts themselves are hardly custom items. In fact, they can be found online and are widely available. They are popular among math and science students because of the “Problem Solved” reference to solving a challenging problem.
The image of the teachers was posted online by a member of Turning Point USA, who wrote: “Concerned parents just sent us this image of what’s believed to be teachers in @vailschools in Tucson, Arizona mocking Charlie’s murder with costumes … ‘Problem Solved’ … They deserve to be famous, and fired.”
State Senator Jake Hoffman was quick to pounce as well, although he has since deleted his original post and followed it up with one that continues to blame the teachers and the school district for the controversy.
State Representative Rachel Keshel, a local State Representative, went even further, putting out a press release on State House letterhead “calling on Superintendent John Carruth to take immediate and decisive action: terminate the employment of every individual involved in creating, wearing, or permitting these abhorrent costumes.”
According to the district superintendent John Carruth, “These shirts were purchased online and were also worn last year as part of the same math-themed costume … Any reference that they were intended as a statement of recent events in our country is unequivocally untrue.”
Not true says Keshel. “I’m not buying his BS story one bit.” tweeted Keshel on her X account.
Despite the district’s explanation, teachers are reportedly receiving hundreds of threats and harassment, and law enforcement presence was increased at the school to protect the teachers. Even though the costumes were not intended to have any specific political or violent reference, the district apologized that they had caused confusion or upset, and said the shirts will not be worn again.
“Everyone wants to be first on social media and none of them seem to care about being right or accurate.” lamented one parent, who marveled that those spreading the falsehoods were so eager to ignore the Halloween holiday. “It wasn’t like they wore these shirts the day after Kirk was assassinated or Trump was shot, it was Halloween. I mean, bloody or violent imagery on Halloween is the new trigger for so-called conservatives?”
“Politicians like Hoffman and Keshel always have the same goal, which is basically screaming ‘Look at me!’ all the time.” scoffed a GOP activist who is a longstanding Charlie Kirk supporter. “Well, we’re looking, you’re wrong, and instead of apologizing and trying to protect your credibility, you’re doubling down to see if you can keep the controversy going even longer so you can get more attention, even if it is 90% just people laughing at you.”
The incident underscores how quickly social media can spark statewide and even national outrage — even U.S. Senator Mike Lee from Utah chimed in on his X account, criticizing the shirts. “The days of conservatives making fun of liberal snowflakes is probably behind us now,” said one Southern Arizona reader, who noted that “conservative snowflakes are going to want to be outraged all the time now too just to get attention and see if they can get people fired or hurt. Which sucks for America, but there may be nothing we can do about it.”
I applaud the ADI for reporting this correctly, and highlighting the few RINO’s that take any little story and spread lies. The truth about the shirts is out there, and not hard to find.
Okay, the shirt was worn last year and there were no complaints, fine. So, one year later things have changed. You would think that one of these educators would have said “wait a minute”. Do you think that considering the tragedies of the last couple of months this shirt is appropriate for the times? Part of living should include the ability to look beyond one’s nose and consider the effects of our actions. It just disgusts me that no-one thought this one out. hey, read the room!
Even if these shirts were purchased and worn during last year’s Halloween, considering the Charlie Kirk murder is still a relatively fresh event, you would think this group of teachers would be just a bit more sensitive to the issue. Read the room folks, this wasn’t a good idea.
Not everyone cares about CK! Quit tying this to something that doesn’t exist.
the ‘incident’ shows how quickly the “LEFT” will do anything to destroy a district that is
performing to excellence – but not to ‘their’ lack of ethic standard and goal.. the flip of the flop – TRUE or FALSE – this is one of the ‘BEST PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE’
Truth and False lies – the ‘issue’ in spaghetti on the wall ‘leftest tactic’ … removal of the pasta – time consuming one strand at a time via the court system.. it is the “RESISTANCE” counter reality. NYET!!!!