‘A typical girl that weighs 120 lb’: Math teacher put on leave during investigation of ‘fat-shaming’ algebra quiz

A San Francisco math teacher was placed on indefinite leave Monday after being accused of using sexist and “fat-shaming” questions on a quiz.

Tom Chan, a Lowell High School math teacher of more than 20 years, assigned quiz questions about dating costs based on a girl’s weight or “sexy points,” along with others involving a “fat kid” and candy, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Lowell High School Principal Jan Bautista notified parents Monday that Chan “needed” to go on leave, without explaining the reason or how long the leave would last.

That parental notification came just hours after The Chronicle contacted San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) officials for comment on Chan’s quiz. One parent told the paper that some families were hesitant to report Chan for fear of retaliation against students.

Director of communications Laura Dudnick told SFGATE the district is aware of complaints about the quiz. “We take these concerns seriously and are actively investigating,” she told the outlet in an emailed statement, declining to add more details on “a personnel matter.”

One question cited by the Chronicle used a woman’s weight as its premise. “The amount of money you spend on a date varies inversely to how much they weigh,” it said. “A typical girl that weighs 120lbs will cost you $55.”

Follow-up questions asked students to calculate the cost of a date with a 220-pound girl named Ashley and how much a date could weigh if a student could only afford $5. The prompt also asked students what the date’s name would be.

Another section of the quiz obtained by the Chronicle was titled “Mr. Chan vs The Fat Kid (part 2),” in which Chan allegedly wrote, “The fat kid from last time wouldn’t be quiet about the candy I was eating in front of him, so I punted him up into the air.” The follow-up questions required students to solve problems related to height and time, and asked students to share the last time they “gave candy to a fat kid.”

Chan also offered students extra credit for performing elaborate dance routines, which he posted on YouTube under the title “Grades or Dignity,” reported NBC Bay Area. The description of the video says “Kids need an A so I provide an out.”

Former student Ezra Medad and Jayden Grajeda told NBC Bay Area they were given similar questions by Chan when in his class, but believed he was simply trying to make the questions engaging and fun for his students.

“He helped us a lot and helped us understand it,” Medad told NBC Bay Area. “Compared to other teachers that are so fast paced. Like when you ask a question, he’d go into depth about it.”

The teenager of the concerned parent who first told the San Francisco Chronicle about the questions said Chan is relatively well-liked by his students. The teenager thought Chan’s questions were similar to bad dad jokes according to the Chronicle.

Bautista and SFUSD Labor Relations Division did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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