Schoolgirl, 10, refuses to answer 'offensive' homework question about students' weights

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By VT

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A young schoolgirl has gone viral on social media after she refused to answer a homework question which she deemed too "offensive" to finish.

Ten-year-old Rhythm Pacheco, a fourth-grader attending Grant Elementary School in Murray in Utah, reportedly refused to answer a question relating to the measurement of weight in her math homework, as she deemed the question's phrasing to be insensitive to fat people.

Check out this school report all about the controversy below: 
[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/FyRsdkkz-Q0L14jDU.mp4||FyRsdkkz]]

The question Rhythm refused to answer asked: "The table to the right shows the weight of three Grade 4 students. How much heavier is Isabel than the lightest student?"

Speaking to TODAY Style Rhythm circled the problem and wrote, "WHAT! 'Sorry I won't write this, it's rude." She then called her mom over and said: "'Mom, come and read this question! I am not answering this, this is so wrong,'"

Her mother Naomi Pacheco told FOX: "I was shocked … I was shocked, honestly. I feel like it’s such an irresponsible way to teach children how to do math."

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/B3cexbJH-gk/]]

Rhythm then wrote a note to her teacher Mrs Shaw, in which she explained: "Dear Mrs Shaw: I don't want to be rude, but I don't think that math problem was very nice because that's judging people's weight. Also, the reason I dod not do the sentence is cause I just don't think that's nice. Oh, and the problem is page 34 number 7."

An image of Rhythm's homework.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Naomi Pacheco/NBC News]]

Meanwhile, Rhythm herself later told NBC News that: "I was very nervous I would get in trouble for not writing out the question, but I still solved the problem. My teacher spoke to me about it and made me feel like she was on my side."

However, on social media, some Twitter users have railed against Rhythm refusing to answer the question, and have accused the girl of being over-sensitive.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Br3Morgan/status/1183022853744156673]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/veritasjc/status/1182985901636571138]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/riccosuave21/status/1182965842151129090]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Mavrick8888/status/1182960043391627264]]

Meanwhile, Chad Colby, the program creator of the Eureka Math school curriculum, claims that the school district is taking this issue seriously, stating: User feedback is a vital part of our culture. We are grateful to receive constructive feedback from students, teachers and parents alike."

He added: "We apologize for any discomfort or offense caused by the question. Please know that we will replace this question in all future reprints, and suggest that teachers supply students with an appropriate replacement question in the interim."

Schoolgirl, 10, refuses to answer 'offensive' homework question about students' weights

vt-author-image

By VT

Article saved!Article saved!

A young schoolgirl has gone viral on social media after she refused to answer a homework question which she deemed too "offensive" to finish.

Ten-year-old Rhythm Pacheco, a fourth-grader attending Grant Elementary School in Murray in Utah, reportedly refused to answer a question relating to the measurement of weight in her math homework, as she deemed the question's phrasing to be insensitive to fat people.

Check out this school report all about the controversy below: 
[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/FyRsdkkz-Q0L14jDU.mp4||FyRsdkkz]]

The question Rhythm refused to answer asked: "The table to the right shows the weight of three Grade 4 students. How much heavier is Isabel than the lightest student?"

Speaking to TODAY Style Rhythm circled the problem and wrote, "WHAT! 'Sorry I won't write this, it's rude." She then called her mom over and said: "'Mom, come and read this question! I am not answering this, this is so wrong,'"

Her mother Naomi Pacheco told FOX: "I was shocked … I was shocked, honestly. I feel like it’s such an irresponsible way to teach children how to do math."

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/B3cexbJH-gk/]]

Rhythm then wrote a note to her teacher Mrs Shaw, in which she explained: "Dear Mrs Shaw: I don't want to be rude, but I don't think that math problem was very nice because that's judging people's weight. Also, the reason I dod not do the sentence is cause I just don't think that's nice. Oh, and the problem is page 34 number 7."

An image of Rhythm's homework.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Naomi Pacheco/NBC News]]

Meanwhile, Rhythm herself later told NBC News that: "I was very nervous I would get in trouble for not writing out the question, but I still solved the problem. My teacher spoke to me about it and made me feel like she was on my side."

However, on social media, some Twitter users have railed against Rhythm refusing to answer the question, and have accused the girl of being over-sensitive.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Br3Morgan/status/1183022853744156673]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/veritasjc/status/1182985901636571138]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/riccosuave21/status/1182965842151129090]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/Mavrick8888/status/1182960043391627264]]

Meanwhile, Chad Colby, the program creator of the Eureka Math school curriculum, claims that the school district is taking this issue seriously, stating: User feedback is a vital part of our culture. We are grateful to receive constructive feedback from students, teachers and parents alike."

He added: "We apologize for any discomfort or offense caused by the question. Please know that we will replace this question in all future reprints, and suggest that teachers supply students with an appropriate replacement question in the interim."