Disagree with the below comment. There’s no chill when it comes to dressing as someone who systematically targeted millions of people, or encouraging a child to look racially insensitive. The Ben cousins look is in poor taste. The child wouldn’t understand what it means. Give them the chance to emulate a positive role model.

Oh dear. No matter what we think of you can always put a twisted negative spin on everything. For the most part we just need to chill.

it won’t be long before book week is banned!

I have seen many “pale skinned” people with white paint on, including at events which have face painting. Some of the indigenous people seem to be discriminating against themselves

Ahhhhh Book Week… when did it turn ugly? When did it lose its innocence? There are so many book character options. Let’s make it about the kids and not the parents. I don’t know of any primary school student that would even necessarily know of Adolf Hitler, and the Ben Cousins option…?? I think parents need to let their children decide who their favourite book character is.

I can’t believe it happened in the first place, what were these parents thinking when they dressed their kids up like this?

What happened to the days of dressing like red riding hood or an Indian.

Why would you dress as Hitler and think that was appropriate? Furthermore, how on earth does that qualify for a book week costume? At my kids school you must be dressing as a fictional character from a book (they even exclude books about movies released like frozen). These costumes smack of parental stupidity, I seriously wonder what inspired them to choose such offensive and inappropriate costumes for their children.

Im sorry but if you are going to dress up for book week at least go all out.
You want to make sure everyone knows who you are dressing up as and not just wearing an outfit for the sake of it.
If you have to paint your face for “colour” of a person or thing. Do it. You shouldn’t be judged. You are dressing up as a person, animal or thing.

I don’t understand that when the student sought approval to dress as Hitler from a teacher prior to arriving at the school in the costume, the teacher approved of this ! I’m from the Netherlands and 2nd World War and Hitler are still very much black pages in many peoples lives (including my parents, who grew up in the war).
The other examples of Nick Naitanui and the white face to highlight double standards, aren’t offensive to me really.

It really goes without saying that a hitter costume is bad.

OK Hitler , i understand , but a child going as his favorite footballer , that happens to be black… i see that as a compliment , not a racial act !
I think political correctness has gone to far

Maybe next time re think your costume!

I would expect families to know that these particular costumes were in bad taste.

Schools need to more clearly define what is appropriate for book week and, indeed, parents need to make more informed decisions on to what their children dress like. Specifying age-appropriate literature would certainly help the cause!

Maybe schools should be more clear about what book week represents. It should probably be something age appropriate for starters.
But book week is also an opportunity to get creative.

An error in judgement yes, but hopefully a good lesson.

I just wish that everything we did wasn’t so easily offensive to someone – sometimes I think people do need to have a bit of a backbone and not take offence to everything – as I am sure the student and teacher didn’t want to cause any harm. the student probably just wanted to go as someone different than what the other kids would choose.

alot of times book week everyone tends to go as a character that is popular in the right now and then half the school is that character – it’s good to see students/parents/teachers thinking outside the what is current right now and trying just that bit harder to be a bit more original and less like the flock!

Oh dear. Very bad judgment

Oh no! How could that possibly seem like a good idea?!