Recently, a schoolgirl made headlines when she refused to answer a homework question she deemed offensive and rude.
The incident, which occurred in 2019, captured attention when the girl’s mother, Naomi, shared a note online explaining her daughter’s actions.
Schoolgirl refuses to answer homework question alleged ‘offensive’ when it mentioned body image issues.
The young girl, Rhythm Pacheco, aged 10 at the time, displayed her objection to a math question that asked about the weight difference between two students.
Rhythm believed that the question could be potentially hurtful to young girls who might already struggle with body image issues.
Circulating the question on the math worksheet, she wrote a note expressing her refusal, stating that it was rude and that she didn’t want to judge people based on their weight.
Rhythm’s intention was also to prevent similar questions from recurring in future assignments.
Rhythm’s teacher was also praised for her respectful approach to student’s points.
Her math teacher at Grant Elementary School in Murray, Utah, handled the situation with sensitivity and understanding.
Unlike many predicted, rather than reprimanding Rhythm, the teacher had a relaxed conversation with her, assuring her that she wasn’t in any trouble and respecting her point.
According to insiders, the question was part of the Eureka Math curriculum, which indicated that they had never received such feedback before.
Chad Colby, the program’s creator, expressed gratitude for the constructive feedback and acknowledged the discomfort caused.
He assured that the question would be replaced in future editions and recommended that teachers provide an appropriate alternative to students in the meantime.
Online users praised the schoolgirl’s action.
On social media, the schoolgirl’s refusal to answer the rude question gained attention and sparked discussions about the importance of sensitive and inclusive educational materials.
Many praised Rhythm for her courage to speak up against what she perceived as offensive content, emphasizing the significance of standing up for what is right even at a young age.
In addition, Naomi, Rhythm’s mother, expressed immense pride in her daughter’s actions and her ability to protect herself and others.
She’s a child, for crying out loud, a child who is thoughtful enough to realize this question could make people uncomfortable. And she’s right! You don’t talk about people’s weight, that’s rude, one user said.
This was cute. She wasn’t trying to be in some way, she was consciously aware of the body image problem young girls face. I love the way the child, teacher, and math program who creates these are handling this, the second user commented.
From the mouth of babe’s!…. Her parents are doing a great job, the third user said.
She’s wrong on one point. The question isn’t asking her to ‘judge’ the girl’s weight but to compare. But in the context of our body shape and weight-conscious society, well done to Rhythm for challenging and still working out the maths, another wrote.
