SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Nine seventh grade students were suspended last month, after participating in a self-administered “gay test” of themselves and classmates at their San Diego middle school. The students in the all-boys English class at Bell Middle School reportedly wore gym shorts while they watched pornographic videos on their cell phones. Students who became sexually aroused were labeled as gay, and several are said to have openly masturbated during class.

Bell instructor Ed Johnson is under fire for accusations that he did not respond to student complaints about the behavior. School district officials have declined additional comment, citing student privacy laws. “We cannot tell you the reasons for the suspensions, or whether further action is being taken with respect to any particular suspension,” Andra Donovan, deputy general counsel for the school district, told NBC San Diego. “With respect to Mr. Johnson, all we can tell you is that he is employed by the District and remains assigned to Bell Middle School.”