Signs of hatred were discovered inside the walls of a local elementary school and it's the second such incident in less than a week at the Lower Merion School District.

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Video Report

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Vandalism and racist graffiti discovered at two Lower Merion schools last week have some parents outraged.

One mother said she was so upset, that she's not sure if she'll let her fifth-grade son return to class.

School officials said several fifth-grade students discovered racist words on a bathroom wall and also two Nazi swastikas.

"I was very surprised that an incident would have happened like that here at the school. Quite honestly I was taken back," Martha Watson, a parent, said.

School officials said the students discovered the racist graffiti last Thursday and pointed it out to their teachers.

Within minutes, administrators contacted police and parents.

"The principal at Gladwyne recorded a message and that went home to the parents of all students via phone," Doug Young, of Lower Merion School District, said.

On Monday, Gladwyne's principal sent a letter home with students, informing parents of the incident.

"It was alarming especially given the fact that there was something at Penn Wynne, as well," Jeff Donoho, a parent, said.

Parents with children attending Penn Wynne Elementary said school officials sent them a letter last Tuesday.

Lower Merion School District officials said someone used chalk to draw a swastika on the school building.

"The swastika is the most offensive symbol you can use against the Jews," Barry Morrison, of the Anti- Defamation League, said.

Both incidents happened during the week of Passover. But no one is saying if the incidents were connected to the Jewish holy week.

However, school officials did contact the Anti-Defamation League.

"In this instance I think that the school and the principal have handled this appropriately," Morrison said. "There needs to be some type of punishment for what they did but they also need to be helped to understand what they did wrong learn to understand."

Lower Merion police were seen back at the school Monday. But they did not comment.

One Gladwyne parent said she's discussed the issue with her son.

"He's just 9 years old so we didn't dwell on it but he understands how important it is to show tolerance for others, tolerance and respect for others," Watson said.