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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'Intolerably offensive': Boy's Nazi costume at elementary school Halloween parade sparks outrage
But the childs ensemble featured two eye-catching details: a fake toothbrush mustache and a red armband decorated with a hand-drawn black swastika.
Pictures of the student wearing the Nazi costume and sporting Adolf Hitlers distinctive facial hair at Creekside Elementary School, about 20 miles north of Salt Lake City, were shared on social media last week, sparking intense backlash from critics who decried the boys attire as intolerably offensive. Now, the schools principal and a teacher have been placed on paid administrative leave, and the school district has launched an investigation into every aspect of the situation, according to a statement emailed to The Washington Post late Sunday.
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One mother told KSTU that parents at the Halloween parade were confused and surprised the boy had been permitted to dress as a Nazi. The mother added the boy had targeted her son and other children of color on the playground at recess by throwing the Hail Hitler sign up.
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I was told they thought he was Charlie Chaplin, she told the news station, and Im like, he has a whole swastika on his arm.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11/04/nazi-costume-utah-elementary-school-creekside/?tid=sm_tw
JFC.
Mike Nelson
(9,966 posts)... why the teacher and principal have been put on leave. Halloween celebrations at elementary schools can be hectic and unpredictable. I think the first failure, in this instance, may have been made in the home.
During my teaching career, we had similar incident... the teacher (a friend) tried to handle it by not being shocked or alarmed and speaking with the student and his peers. After the discussion, the kid was taken to the office while his parents were called to bring in a change of clothing.
There were also spirit day/dress-up guidelines stated in our parents handbook.
MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)might have come into play in that decision.
Mike Nelson
(9,966 posts)... The Kid, starring Charlie Chaplin. They groaned when I said it was in B&W and "silent" - but they loved the film. Still, I wonder if anyone would "dress up" like Chaplin today... he does have Hitler-like looks, especially in The Great Dictator. I guess the investigation will solve the mystery...
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and giving him another top to wear, and wiping off the mustache strongly identified with Adolf Hitler, they let him parade around an elementary school wearing a swastika and giving the Nazi salute.
Of course the first failure was in the home. But if this situation had been handled when, where and by whom it should have been at school, without that incredibly serious judgement (and moral?) lapse, no doubt the district administrators would not have had to step in. But it wasn't, so we're wondering why.
Dorian Gray
(13,501 posts)kids have to dress as a literary character made from materials you have at home. (Not a brand new costume.)
It probably helps prevent something like this.
Mike Nelson
(9,966 posts)... Dr. Seuss Day. It's an option, if they want to dress as something other than a Dr. Seuss character. Halloween is a Free Dress Day - but within guidelines - the swastika symbol is prohibited, of course. We have a Halloween Carnival in the evening, and many teachers take a "sub day" because they volunteer for the Carnival. The subs should be as qualified as the regular teachers. It's very hectic, with thousands of people in costume... Teachers are always doing too much!
Stories like the one linked appear all the time - and educators are often seen as encouraging bad behavior. Yes, the classroom teacher is responsible, but it is a shared responsibility. It begins with parents. At our school, a staff person admits students at a gate; inappropriate attire would be addressed there... now, maybe the story liked has some reason for believing the school encourages fascism - I don't know. As a credentialed teacher, I have a point of view, I know... I tend to look at it from the teachers' point of view.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)nt
Captain Zero
(6,823 posts)nt
Response to Captain Zero (Reply #2)
Polybius This message was self-deleted by its author.
Polybius
(15,476 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 5, 2019, 03:02 AM - Edit history (1)
Think about it. If I went as Stalin, Fidel Castro, or even Genghis Khan I wouldn't be fired or reprimanded at any job. Is there anyone besides Hitler that would get a person fired or sent home?
Actually, Trump is getting there. Being him on Halloween isn't a smart idea these days.
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)Polybius
(15,476 posts)I know I couldn't.
braddy
(3,585 posts)Genghis Khan, your racism would be the issue, not your being history's worst mass murderer.
Polybius
(15,476 posts)As long as you don't do the racial features. I went as Barry Bonds once, complete with the cross earring he was known for and uniform. I didn't use blackface (obviously), so it was fine.
I also see many black kids go as Superman or Batman, and that is totally fine too.
braddy
(3,585 posts)Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)The Charlie Chaplin confusion isn't as far fetched as it may seem.
dsc
(52,166 posts)An amazing film BTW.
Crunchy Frog
(26,630 posts)Sorry. There's no way you could confuse that with Hitler. There's also no swastika in your picture. I call bullshit on anyone claiming validity for this story.
aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)More seriously, I think it would interesting to see if the alleged swastika was a swastika or Chaplin's XX.
aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)Maybe he went as Prince Harry.
demmiblue
(36,885 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)And a monster. It can fit, in a way
appalachiablue
(41,171 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)UTUSN
(70,740 posts)Will the oh so thorough investigation include the kid's parents? It took some personal teaching by somebody for the kid to know the heil salute.
demmiblue
(36,885 posts)OhZone
(3,212 posts)Did anyone go as Buster Keaton or Harold Lloyd?
Total BS.
LonePirate
(13,431 posts)An elementary school kid probably has no frame of knowledge and experience to understand how offensive the costume was. He was simply micmicing behavior and beliefs of his parents, who should have prevented him from wearing that costume at school.
The kid needs to learn and understand history and his parents deserve all of the outrage and ramifications here.