Classroom’s Holocaust poster draws ire of school staff member, is removed

Last week, students of a sixth grade class at Lincoln School in Fairview, New Jersey were working on a group assignment – create a poster based on Number the Stars, a historical fiction novel about a Jewish family's plight during the Holocaust. One of the posters created included images of swastikas, pictures of Jewish children with their faces crossed out, and desecrated Stars of David/Israeli flags. Said poster was then put on display on a hallway wall near theclassroom for days, before a complaint was filed on Monday by a Jewish staff member and it was taken down, as NJ.com reports.

The poster in question (NJ.com)

The unnamed staff member, who is Orthodox Jewish, was offended by the sight of the poster, telling NJ.com, “It's highly offensive to anybody, especially someone who is Jewish and whose family members were survivors of the Holocaust." She said that it lacked an explanation that it was inspired by a book that covered the topic, and denies claims from the Fairview Board of Education that a copy of Number the Stars was displayed near the poster. Furthermore, she says that when she approached Lincoln School’s principal, Lea Turro, she was told that it would not be removed until, “the class' curriculum was scheduled to change.”

(FairviewPS.org)

Fairview Superintendent Louis DeLisio spoke with NJ.com and says he ordered the poster’s removal on Tuesday after speaking with the anonymous staff member who complained and the teacher who had assigned the project. He told the New Jersey news website, “"We're not trying to offend anyone... my true feeling is they (the students) did not have any ill-intention with this poster. They were trying to depict things that were prohibited during the Holocaust."

As for the teacher who assigned the project, she was reportedly upset after learning her assignment, one that was meant to “resonate with students,” had offended a coworker, for reasons that include the fact that she is engaged to a Jewish man.

More info: NJ.com

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Teacher claims she was suspended from job because she’s transgender

Laura Jane Klug has worked as a substitute teacher in the Lumberton Independent School District in Texas, but was recently suspended from her job after parents started to complain. Why the complaints? It doesn’t appear that it had anything to do with Klug’s capabilities as a teacher, but rather becauseshe’s transgender, as KBMT 12 News reports.

(KBMT)

KBMT spoke with Ms. Klug. She says that the district’s superintendent, John Valastro, suspended her and that whether she would continue working within the school system would be a matter decided by the school board. Klug says she has substituted before without issue and doesn’t know what instigated her suspension. She told KBMT, “I have always conducted myself in a professional manner and would never discuss my gender identity in school.”

(KBMT)

The complaints are coming from parents like Roger Beard. Beard spoke with KBTV Fox 4 News and said that he wasn’t comfortable discussing transgender people with his child. He told the station, “Within an hour of them being exposed, or dealing with this, there’s a few issues here, that I think is too young, these kids are too young for this issue.” He also told KBMT, “There’s some things we can accept in society, that children are not going to accept the same way that we do.” Neither station mentioned whether Beard felt like he was hindering his child’s ability to “accept” a transgender person by demanding one’s removal from their position.

(KBTV)

Other people in the Lumberton area are displeased that Klug has had to deal with any of this. Donna Jackson told KBMT, “I think it’s awful. My heart goes out to this woman and I’m really sad that things like that still go on.” Jammie Marcantel, the mother of a 5th grader echoed Jackson’s sentiments in her interview with KBTV, saying, “My son knows who he is and I don’t think any outside influence is going to change that. I’m more concerned about straight predatory teachers rather than I am of somebody who lives an alternative private lifestyle.”

(KBMT)

As for Klug’s fate, the Lumberton ISD school board will make a decision whether to fire her, but believes there will be plenty of conversation over the matter at an open forum on Thursday’s school board meeting.

More info: KBMT, KBTV

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Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen Series)

The ravaged continent of Genabackis has given birth to a terrifying new empire: the Pannion Domin. Like a tide of corrupted blood, it seethes across the land, devouring all. In its path stands an uneasy alliance: Onearm’s army and Whiskeyjack’s Bridgeburners alongside their enemies of old — the forces of the Warlord Caladan Brood, Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii mages, and the Rhivi people of the plains. But ancient undead clans are also gathering; the T’lan Imass have risen. For it would seem something altogether darker and more malign threatens this world. Rumors abound that the Crippled God is now unchained and intent on a terrible revenge. Marking the return of many characters from Gardens of the Moon and introducing a host of remarkable new players, Memories of Ice is both a momentous new chapter in Steven Erikson’s magnificent epic fantasy and a triumph of storytelling. “This novel and all others in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series follow my own pronunciations of ‘Malazan’ words and names. My thanks to Michael and Jane and everyone at Brilliance Audio.” —Steven Erikson, Victoria, B.C. Canada, January, 2014

Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen Series)