BALTIMORE SCHOOL DISTRICT DEFENDS 'MISUNDERSTOOD' HISTORY CLASS SLIDE SHOWING TRUMP ALONGSIDE SWASTIKA AND HAMMER AND SICKLE

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https://www.newsweek.com/trump-swastika-history-class-maryland-school-1488404

 

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A school in Maryland has come under fire after an image of President Donald Trump alongside a swastika and a hammer and sickle was used during a history class presentation.

The image was used in a slide during an Advanced Placement history lesson at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, reports WBFF.

The image contained the words "wants to round up a group of people and build a giant wall" above Trump along with the words "been there" and "done that" on top of the swastika and hammer and sickle.

Parents of the pupils in the class have described their shock after being made aware of the image after it was shown on Wednesday.

"I was told that by another student who said the topic in that class was supposedly world leaders shunning other groups out," one parent, who did not wish to be named, told WBFF. "I said, 'Is this part of the curriculum?'"

Baltimore County councilman Wade Kach, who represents the area of Towson where Loch Raven High is located, also described his disgust: "To even imply that our president is in any way a Nazi or a communist is outrageous.

"Is this curriculum for AP? Is it a purchased curriculum? Is it one that our school system wrote? Where is it coming from? I just think that it's irresponsible to post anything like this in a classroom,"Kach said.

In a full statement provided to WMAR, Baltimore County Public Schools said: "The image was a slide used in a classroom discussion. We can confirm it was from Loch Raven High and used as part of a lesson in an AP History course.

"The topics being discussed included World Wars and the attempts by some leaders to limit, or prevent migration, into certain countries. In isolation and out of context with the lesson, the image could be misunderstood.

"In our Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which are college level courses, we expect and encourage analysis and discussion around historical and current events even if they are considered controversial.

"This lesson was not intended to make a political statement. If a student has concerns when discussing a controversial issue, schools have the tools to address the concern and support the student."

It is unclear if the teacher of the history class made the image used in the slide or whether it already existed.

Baltimore County Public Schools has been contacted for further comment.