The principal of an Alice Springs college regrets that a student “with an interest in history and politics” was allowed to dress up as Adolf Hitler for book week.
The student appeared as the Nazi leader on Wednesday as part of reading week celebrations at St Philip’s College in the Northern Territory. He was also awarded one of the prizes for best dressed and featured in a parade held during the college assembly.
The principal, Roger Herbert, confirmed to ABC Alice Springs that the student had asked “a respected staff member” for permission to dress up as Hitler, and that she had said yes.
“Now she is absolutely shattered that she said that, and I’m really concerned about her wellbeing.”
Students on exchange from Bialik College, a cross-communal inclusive Jewish school in Melbourne, were present at the assembly.
Herbert told the ABC he had apologised to the Jewish students, who he said were “absolutely fantastic and accepting”.
The principal of Bialik College, Jeremy Stowe-Lindner, told Guardian Australia St Philip’s had handled the situation well and he had “every faith” in Herbert.
“It was an unfortunate incident. Their reaction has been swift with students, parents, staff, our students, us. We’re schools. We’re learning institutions and this is something for everybody to learn from ...
“Look, it is distressing. It was a poor judgment call. But the follow-up and the resolution has been outstanding.”
Stowe-Lindner said the schools had a six-year relationship and the exchange would continue.
St Philip’s College apologised “unreservedly for any offence” in a statement circulated by an external communications agency that specialises in crisis management on Friday.
“This was an innocent mistake by a teacher who is a respected, honourable and lovely person who got it wrong on the day. The student involved has an interest in history and politics and did the right thing by getting permission for his ‘book week’ costume.
“The school is providing support and assistance to the teacher, the student, and their family. It has been a very distressing lesson for all concerned.”
The school was reviewing its policies “to ensure that nothing like this can happen again”.
The spokeswoman said she could not give the student’s age.
According to the St Philip’s College newsletter issued last Friday, all students had been encouraged to dress up as a book character of their choice as part of the celebrations.
“We hope this week will be enjoyably educational, and will foster or hone good reading habits in our students.”
In a letter to parents issued on Friday, Herbert congratulated all of those who had taken part, and “made the effort to enhance the wonderful world of words”.
“Even in this world of electronic gadgetry, nothing can beat picking up a good book and being able to travel to foreign places, learn new languages, learn about new cultures, or get to know new people without ever having to leave our own homes.”
Earlier this month, a mother in Perth was criticised for painting her son’s face brown for a book week costume inspired by the West Coast Eagles AFL footballer Nic Naitanui.
Naitanui, who is of Fijian heritage, was among those to condemn the mother when she posted a photo of her son’s costume to Facebook, congratulating herself for having “painted [her] boy brown”.