Holocaust joke ‘not funny’
Two teenagers who dressed up as Holocaust victims will not be suspended from their Catholic School.
The Auckland students arrived at athletics day dressed in blue striped pyjamas, with a yellow Star of David pinned to their shirts.
Liston College Board of Trustees chairman Ralph Elika said the school would use restorative justice for the boys who had thought the outfits were a ‘‘funny joke’’.
‘‘It is far more effective to teach these boys what they did is not amusing.’’
The school had received a letter of apology from the students involved in what they thought was a good prank, Elika said.
‘‘Their family is mortified,’’ he said.
It all unravelled on February 22 when the students came to school wearing their sports uniform over their costumes.
‘‘No one knew what they were wearing until they almost unveiled themselves thinking it was cool,’’ Elika said. ‘‘And it really wasn’t funny.’’ Elika said other students and staff were horrified at the act and the boys were sent home immediately.
However, by then someone had already posted a photograph of the boys on social media app Snapchat. The image was noticed by a member of the public who called Liston College to complain.
Elika said the school would start the restorative justice process this week.
Catholic Diocese of Auckland spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said she found it ‘‘abhorrent’’ the teenagers had used the Star of David as a joke.
‘‘Their family is mortified’’