Two organizations are working with Pleasantville High School to prevent hate messages on school property. A swastika was found drawn inside a bathroom stall at the high school Oct. 10. After being reported by a student, the drawing was addressed by the school officials and an investigation was initiated. 

The swastika was found drawn in pencil on the bottom kickplate of a stall door. A student found it after the school day had ended. High school principal Joseph Palumbo sent out a letter to the community the following day. 

As reported by the Examiner, Palumbo stated in the letter, “This discovery follows the call to action that I made to students in our building to come forward with information. I am grateful to these students and I encourage all to continue their efforts in our fight against hate.”

Pleasantville High School is partnering with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) to educate students.

Millie Jasper, Executive Director of the HHREC, said her organization will provide a program for English and social studies teachers to use in their classrooms on hate symbols, hate speech and the history of anti-Semitism. The HHREC has offered the program in other schools before.

“We at the HHREC believe that many students who do things like draw swastikas do it out of ignorance, not malice,” Jasper said. “We believe that a lot of the students will do it to get a rise out of teachers, their friends- they know it’s bad, in terms of the swastika. They know it has to do with Jews, but we really don’t believe they understand the ramifications of such an act.”

Students at the high school must participate by sitting in on the lessons and then signing their name on a proclamation saying that they will treat people with respect and dignity.