Teacher pairs Trump with swastika in Baltimore class. Politician calls it ‘propaganda’
Politicians have voiced concern over images shown in a Baltimore County, Maryland, classroom presenting President Donald Trump next to Nazi and communist symbols.
A slide in an AP History class at Loch Raven High School featured Trump above pictures of a Nazi swastika and hammer-and-sickle often used with communist parties, according to WBFF. The text “wants to round up a group of people and build a giant wall” was shown in the Trump image — followed by “been there” and “done that,” the Baltimore TV station reported.
A statement from the Baltimore County Public Schools to WMAR-TV said the topics in the discussion 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,” the school district stated, per the TV station. “In our Advanced Placement 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.”
The high school is located in Towson, a suburb of Baltimore. Trump referred to an area of Baltimore last year as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”
The school district did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
Kathy Szeliga, a Republican member of Maryland’s House of Delegates representing Baltimore County and Harford County, called the slide used in the classroom “propaganda.”
“Educational malfeasance of the highest degree,” she wrote on Facebook Friday morning. “What is going on (at) our Balt Co Public Schools???? I will be demanding answers and actions from BCPS TODAY.”
Szeliga went on to say the statement the school district provided to media was “wholly unacceptable.”
Wade Kach, a Baltimore County councilman, agreed with Szeliga’s sentiment and told WBFF that implying Trump “is in any way a Nazi or communist is outrageous.”
“Is this curriculum for AP?” the Republican asked the TV station. “Is it 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.”
Others have commented in social media posts about the classroom slideshow, including a man who wrote on Szeliga’s post that the school district is responsible for “indoctrination” — “just as they do in college.”
“You as parents are the children’s only hope to stand up and stop it, and inform your children this is wrong in so many ways,” Jerry Finnerty continued in his comment. “I am glad that my boys are older and were not subjected to such hate. I will still fight for all children and against BC.”
One woman applauded the school district and asked for the teacher to get “a bravery award.”
“To help students think critically and analytically you can’t be timid about actually allowing critical thought into the classroom,” the woman wrote on Twitter.