East Brook Middle School in Paramus, New Jersey, has recalled its yearbooks after an infant photograph identified as Adolf Hitler was discovered in the publication's baby pictures section. The incident has prompted an investigation by the school district and local law enforcement.
Principal Ryan Aupperlee informed parents in a letter on June 25 that the yearbooks were collected immediately after the discovery to prevent further circulation of the image. The school serves students in the Bergen County borough of Paramus.
"I want to be direct with you: the presence of this image is unacceptable," Aupperlee stated in the letter. "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. 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."
The origin of the photograph, how it was submitted, and why it was not caught during the yearbook review process are currently under investigation. Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza acknowledged the incident on Facebook, emphasizing that it does not represent the town's inclusive values. The returned yearbooks, which had already been signed by students and staff, will require consideration regarding the preservation of personal messages.
The school district is expected to outline subsequent steps following its review of the incident. The inclusion of historical figures, particularly those associated with hate and atrocities, in school publications has previously drawn attention. The Anti-Defamation League has also reported instances of antisemitic harassment in other school districts, including allegations of Nazi salutes and Holocaust mockery in Colorado's Boulder Valley School District, prompting civil rights complaints.