Teacher, principal placed on paid administrative leave following student’s controversial project on Hitler

A Tenafly principal and teacher have been placed on paid administrative leave following a controversial assignment where a student reported on what he called the accomplishments of Adolf Hitler.

News 12 Staff

Jun 4, 2021, 9:37 AM

Updated 1,296 days ago

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A Tenafly principal and teacher have been placed on paid administrative leave following a controversial assignment where a student reported on what he called the accomplishments of Adolf Hitler.
The project was displayed in the hallway at Maugham Elementary School, and a parent posted about it on social media. That's when the investigation into the fifth grader's assignment, which was approved by the teacher, began.
After initially defending the teacher by saying things were taken out of context, things have changed, from the superintendent's perspective.
Shauna DeMarco, who is the superintendent of schools, says the assignment violated the district's curriculum, and she wants to know why it was displayed after some of the community asked whether it was appropriate.
"This has had a devastating impact on the student involved and their family, who have been thrown into turmoil through no fault of their own. It has also been incredibly painful for our Jewish community members in the face of increasing instances of antisemitism around the country,” she says.
The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey says the student is not to blame. A spokesperson with the federation called the decisions made by the school "poor and inexcusable."
DeMarco says the principal and teacher will remain on leave until her investigation is complete.