Teacher suspended over test questions about drugs, guns

This undated photo shows a math test parents say was given to middle school students in Mobile, Ala. on Friday, May 27. (Erica Hall via WALA-TV)

MOBILE, Ala. – An Alabama teacher is on leave after giving middle school students a test with math questions about prostitutes, drugs and guns, a school official said Wednesday.

Rena Philips, a spokeswoman for Mobile County's public schools, said the educator from Burns Middle School was placed on administrative leave after a parent complained. The teacher's name isn't being made public, Phillips said.

WALA-TV quoted parent Erica Hall as saying the test was given to her son's eighth-grade language arts class on Friday.

"My son, he took a picture of it in class and he texted it to me. I couldn't believe it," Hall said.

Question: Leroy has 2 ounces of cocaine. If he sells an eight ball to Antonio for $320 and 2 grams to Juan for $85 per gram, what is the street value of the rest of his hold?

Hall said students thought the quiz was a joke, but the teacher "told them that it wasn't it a joke, and they had to complete it and turn it in."

The 10-question quiz included questions about prostitution, drugs, drive-by shootings and spray paint graffiti. According to WALA, one of the questions was: Leroy has 2 ounces of cocaine. If he sells an eight ball to Antonio for $320 and 2 grams to Juan for $85 per gram, what is the street value of the rest of his hold?"

It was similar to a math quiz that's been on the internet for years with questions about gangs.

Philips said the principal and a school police officer investigated after officials learned of the test Tuesday, and the teacher was placed on leave.

Hall said the teacher is retiring at the end of the school year, but Philips declined comment on details of her job status.