MONROE — A Monroe High math teacher is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a district investigation into allegations he gave his students an “inappropriate” assignment, a school district spokesman said.

Superintendent Barry Martin declined to provide the man’s name, but he did say a math teacher asked school seniors in his class to “use information he gave them to create a graph.” After learning of the assignment via social media, school officials later said the assignment was inappropriate.

Mr. Martin did not say exactly what the assignment was or exactly what about it was inappropriate.

He did say, however, “the district encourages understanding and respect of different backgrounds and cultures in the classroom.”

“We view anything that dissuades the students from this task as a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently,” Mr. Martin said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Responding to social media posts that purport the math assignment included jokes at the expense of Arab women, the Council on American Islamic Relations responded Tuesday by condemning the teacher.

“We think of this assignment as highly reprehensible and offensive,” Lena Kamal, the safe spaces coordinator and an attorney for the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said, “and we are glad the superintendent is taking the necessary steps."

First Published November 16, 2016, 5:00 a.m.