In a New York State classroom, Albany High School students were assigned last week to write a composition persuading the reader that “Jews are evil,” for the problems of Nazi Germany.

The composition assigned by a tenth grade teacher involved research into Nazi propaganda, and included making the assumption that the teacher was a Nazi government official. The students were then required to write a paper persuading the official that “Jews are evil” in order to convince the official of their “loyalty” to the Nazi cause.

The assignment came to light in an article published on Friday, April 12th by the Albany Times Union newspaper. The paper reported that one-third of the students refused to do the assignment.

Albany school district spokesman Ron Lesko said administrators are discussing the matter and trying to decide what official action to take.

School superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard added, however, that she does not believe any malicious intent was involved on the part of the teacher who assigned the project.

The identity of the teacher has been withheld.