What to Know
Receiving a school yearbook is a highlight for many students. That book of photos represents a special time in their lives and is a treasured keepsake. When staff at East Brook Middle School in Paramus, New Jersey, distributed the school’s most recent yearbook to students, everyone expected the annual book to be filled with memories and good times.
What they did not expect was to see an image of a baby Adolf Hitler among students’ baby photos. Paramus School District officials recalled the yearbooks and launched an investigation to determine how the image ended up in the yearbook and why.
Hitler’s baby photo appeared among graduating eighth graders’ baby photos.
It’s not clear who put the photo in the yearbook or how it made it all the way to the printer, but Ryan Aupperlee, principal of East Brook Middle School in Paramus, will not stand for it. Aupperlee addressed the situation in a letter to parents obtained by NJ.com.
“Earlier today, after students had already received their yearbooks, we learned that the baby pictures section of the yearbook contained an image that was later identified as an infant photograph of Adolf Hitler,” Aupperlee added that he contacted law enforcement. Together, the school and police launched an investigation.
“I want to be direct with you: the presence of this image is unacceptable. Even if the image was not immediately recognizable to those paging through the book, its inclusion in an official school publication is a severe breach of our values,” Aupperlee wrote.
The principal assured the community that the photo does not represent the school’s values.
“Adolf Hitler represents hatred, antisemitism, and the horrors of the Holocaust, including the murder of six million Jews. An image of him has no place in a yearbook created for our students. It does not reflect who we are or what East Brook stands for, and we condemn its inclusion without reservation,” Aupperlee wrote.
“We remain committed to ensuring that our school reflects the values of respect, inclusion, and dignity for every member of our community,” the principal added.
The story concerned the local Jewish community.
The Jewish Link reported Bergen County has a bustling Jewish community, and these types of situations create great concern.
“Incidents like this remind us that antisemitism is not confined to history books. Education, vigilance and moral leadership remain essential,” Jason Shames, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey said. “We hope this difficult moment becomes an opportunity for meaningful learning and reinforces the responsibility we all have to confront hate whenever and wherever it appears.”
Jewish leaders hope the incident will lead to further education about the Holocaust and the millions of lives Hitler’s actions destroyed.
The community wants answers.
Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza shared his commitment to religious freedom and equality in the city.
“I am aware of the unfortunate incident, involving the year book, at East Brook Middle School yesterday and have been in communication with both the Superintendent of Schools and Chief of Police. Our borough’s strength has always been because we are a town welcoming to all faiths and home to numerous houses of worship. Any examples, like yesterday’s, does not reflect Paramus,” he wrote. “God bless.”
Several people commented on DiPiazza’s post wanting accountability.
“I keep reading all these posts & comments I gotta say biggest concern here is who Checked these books. Kids do silly/dumb things they are kids. But the adults with the responsibility to check over these that missed it that’s a problem. It’s a black & white photo among all colored photos,” someone wrote. “That in itself catches your eye!”
This person agreed, writing, “Gosh it is sad to think that at least one student did this intentionally. I thought it was like somehow in the background or a mistake. Just so stupid and sad that young preteens would even think of doing such a thing.”
The school will reissue the yearbooks at a later date without Hitler’s photo.
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