South Bay History Teacher Put On Paid Leave After Comparing Trump To Hitler
MOUNTAIN VIEW (KPIX 5) -- A Mountain View high school teacher was kicked out of his classroom and is now getting threats for comparing President-elect Donald Trump to Hitler.
Frank Novarro doesn't know when he'll be in front of the classroom again after a history lesson he believes was misunderstood.
While some are accusing the history teacher of calling Trump a racist by drawing the comparison, he says that didn't happen.
"Because I think that it is historically factual," says Novarro.
He insists he talked to his 9th grade class about both presidential candidates as a Holocaust expert and drew parallels to the President elect and the Nazi dictator.
"Hitler said he would make Germany great again, Donald Trump said he would make America great again -- Hitler focused on the Jews and the Poles as foreigners and that they should be driven from Germany, Donald Trump has focused on Muslims," said Navarro.
Navarro isn't the only bay area teacher in the hot seat after Trump's win..
A Milpitas principal is also on leave for using profanity about Trump.
Navarro says he never talked about his own opinions, though, only historical facts.
"I think there are valid historical comparisons to be made," says Navarro.
Would he do it again?
"I would do it again. Absolutely."
Navarro says he's now getting online threats but he's also getting a lot of support.
A petition on change.org is calling for the reversal of the decision to place him on leave has thousands of signatures and dozens of positive comments.
"I'm overwhelmed and amazed," he says.
Navarro says he can see why someone would be offended, but he was simply doing his job -- a job he hopes to return to one day.
"I think it's a heated time I think we are polarized," he says. "we have forgotten what it is to exchange ideas."