Teacher Told Sixth Grade Students To Make ‘Colorful’ Nazi Mascot

Image by Getty
A Georgia middle school teacher is under investigation after she tasked her students with creating a “colorful” mascot for a Nazi rally in 1935, the Atlanta Jewish Times reported. An official from the school says the assignment was an attempt to fulfill the state curriculum requirement that students learn about Nazi propaganda.
“The year is 1935 and you have been tasked with creating a mascot to represent the Nazi party at its political rallies,” the assignment read. “You will create a COLORFUL illustration of the mascot. Give the mascot a NAME. You will also write an explanation as to why the mascot was chosen to represent the Nazi party.”
The school official called the assignment “a teachable moment” and “not appropriate.”
“When you think about a mascot for something, you think it’s a good thing—mascot for your college, mascot for your high school,” Richard Rose, the president of Atlanta’s NAACP chapter, told a local news station. “This is nothing to celebrate.”
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
