MESA, Ariz. — A Mesa High School teacher is being investigated after reportedly dressing up as a devil and saying "hail Satan" to students, according to one of the students in his class.
Sophomore Nathaniel Hamlet said last Wednesday he walked into class and noticed his teacher wearing devil horns and carrying a pitchfork. Hamlet alleges the teacher waved the pitchfork over students' heads as they entered and said "hail Satan".
"Some people thought it was funny, some people didn't like it, some people were like 'whatever,' they just blew it off," Hamlet said.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Profesor de Mesa puesto en licencia administrativa luego de que estudiantes dijeron que se disfrazó de diablo, dijo ‘alabado Satanás’ en clase
On Tuesday, the teacher involved in the situation told 12News the reason why they were dressed up that way was for Halloween spirit week. They said the theme was dynamic duos and the teacher next door was in an angel costume.
"Participating in spirit weeks like this is a way for me to engage with my students and bring fun to my classroom," they wrote. "It's truly not any more complicated than that."
Still, Hamlet said he was insulted by the teacher's costume because of his faith.
"I said, 'Don't do that to me' and I pushed [the pitchfork] away, maybe three or four times and he still said it and still did it," Hamlet said.
The sophomore then told his dad Chris Hamlet, a former Mesa Public School board candidate, about the situation. Chris said he then reported it to the Mesa High School principal.
"I was livid because I am a Christian as well, obviously," Chris Hamlet said. “What really tipped it over for me is, he kept telling him no, and he and the teacher kept persisting.”
The next day Nathaniel Hamlet said the teacher was not in the classroom and hasn't been back since. Mesa Public Schools said the teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave.
“I feel like that's fair, but he did it repeatedly to everyone," Nathaniel Hamlet said. "So I feel like you should probably get fired.”
His father agrees. Whether the teacher was joking or not, what was reportedly done in class was not appropriate, Chris Hamlet said.
“If you're gonna keep the Christian stuff out, then you got to keep the devil-worshiping stuff out, period,” Chris Hamlet said.
In a Facebook post last month recruiting Republican precinct committeemen, Chris Hamlet said: "Evil is rampant within the Republican party as well; we need WARRIORS for CHRIST!!”
Chris Hamlet ran for the Mesa Unified School Board in 2022 as an opponent of "indoctrination, hypersexualization and grooming." He was supported by prominent far-right Republicans – state Sen. Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff and Congressman Paul Gosar of Bullhead City. Chris Hamlet finished sixth in the seven-person field.
A spokesperson for Mesa Public Schools sent 12News the following statement regarding the situation:
"Mesa Public Schools administration was notified of the alleged incident at Mesa High School late Wednesday afternoon after school hours. Our Human Resources department began the investigation Thursday morning and placed the teacher on paid administrative leave pending the result of the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing."
Other parents on Monday picking up their kids from school told 12News while they don't agree with what the teacher did, they think firing the teacher may take it too far.
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