A teacher at Middlesex Middle School has been suspended after telling students to draw a swastika in their notebooks and asking them to write a paragraph listing reasons why Hitler may have been good for Germany, according to a published report.
The article, published Thursday in the Connecticut Examiner and citing unamed “multiple sources,” said that an unnamed “veteran” social studies teacher of a seventh grade class was teaching a lesson on the Holocaust. According to the report, the teacher showed students a baby picture of Adolf Hitler. The report said the teacher commented on how cute the child was.
Some students in the seventh grade class were “reportedly visibly upset,” according to the Examiner report.
The report did not say that the teacher made any statements in support of Hitler or Nazism, either in plain language or with clear allusions indicating such support.
On Thursday morning, according to the report, Middlesex Principal Karolyn Dahlstrom sent an email to parents at the school saying that the school administration takes the incident seriously and was reviewing it, and upset students are invited to see a school counselor.
Schools Superintendent Alan Addley on Friday sent an email to “faculty and families,” saying that “allegations are serious” about “a middle school lesson on the Holocaust that was covered in the press yesterday.”
He said the matter was being investigated. “Given that the investigation is ongoing and students are involved, I cannot share specific information about this matter with our community.” (Scroll down for the full text of Addley’s email.)
Wider Context
The local incident comes at a time when reports of antisemitic incidents had increased by 361% nationwide, after the Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis by Palestinian attackers associated with the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. In a report in early January, the Anti-Defamation League compared the three-month period after Oct. 7 to the same period a year earlier.
According to CNN: “About 40% or 1,353 antisemitic incidents involved verbal or written harassment, the ADL said. There were 553 incidents involving vandalism and 60 were physical assaults, the ADL said.”
In a news release, the ADL said: “Of the total, at least 500 incidents took place on college campuses, and another 256 were reported in K-12 schools.”
The Jan. 9 news release also said:
“The American Jewish community is facing a threat level that’s now unprecedented in modern history,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “It’s shocking that we’ve recorded more antisemitic acts in three months than we usually would in an entire year.”
Full Text of Addley’s Email
Dear Faculty & Families,
I have received questions from members of our school community about a middle school lesson on the Holocaust that was covered in the press yesterday. The allegations are serious, and we are in the process of investigating them. Given that the investigation is ongoing and students are involved, I cannot share specific information about this matter with our community.
When we receive reports that students or others in our school community have been made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe for any reason, we act promptly to review and address those concerns while supporting those affected. Maintaining a safe school environment free from antisemitism and other forms of hate is our top priority in the Darien Public Schools.
Families whose children may need support in processing these issues should reach out to their building principal who can connect your child with a school counselor or other trusted adult.
Sincerely,
Dr Alan Addley
Superintendent of Schools