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.