Elementary school logo evokes Nazi image, critics claim; district halts rollout

A suburban Atlanta college district stated it would scrap a proposed elementary university emblem whose eagle design critics claimed evoked images of Nazi insignia. The reversal adopted grievances from area Jewish citizens, including the govt director of a synagogue throughout the street from the university.

The proposed emblem for East Side Elementary University in Marietta, Georgia, depicted a silhouette of an eagle, head dealing with correct, and the letters ”ES” beneath.

Regional mothers and fathers and Jewish neighborhood leaders pointed out that the university symbol was evocative of the “Nazi Eagle” insignia adopted by the Countrywide Socialist German Workers’ Social gathering led by Adolf Hitler and liable for the deaths of additional than 6 million Jews and others in concentration camps during Environment War II.

A person on line area mum or dad, who goes by the identify “Stacy E,” wrote on Twitter: “Today my child’s university announced a new logo. Our Jewish family members has often felt loved and welcome there. Right now they announced a new logo which seems to be similar to one more very well-acknowledged image. I assume (& hope) this was an trustworthy oversight.”

American Jewish Committee regional director Dov Wilker said in a assertion, “It is troubling that no person in the Cobb County schools recognized why this emblem would be problematic, specifically for a school positioned throughout the avenue from a synagogue. The university really should do additional than assessment the logo. It need to be discarded quickly.”

The district swiftly responded, reported Marty Gilbert, govt director of Congregation Etz Chaim, a Conservative Jewish synagogue that claims 600 location households as users. He mentioned “a fantastic amount” of all those households have small children who attend East Side Elementary, and that the synagogue has experienced “a longstanding relationship” with the faculty.

Mr. Gilbert said he brought the situation of the symbol design to university principal Maria Clark through e mail on Monday afternoon. The subsequent morning, Ms. Clark known as, apologized and stated the college was “not looking to offend any person,” he included.

“This variety of stuff transpires, and we have to be vigilant and phone it out when we see it,” Mr. Gilbert said.

In an electronic mail to The Washington Periods, a spokesperson for the Cobb County University District reported, “Earlier this week, we uncovered of worries about a new symbol at East Aspect Elementary. The roll-out of this brand has been halted, and we are instantly reviewing required variations. We understand and strongly agree that similarities to Nazi symbolism are unacceptable. Although this structure was centered on the U.S. Military colonel’s eagle wings, stakeholder input has been and proceeds to be significant to our faculties.”