Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school decided to cancel our Halloween parade and is not allowing the kids to wear costumes. The decision was made because other elementary schools in our cluster have decided not to celebrate.

When majority of the community is for celebrating Halloween, why do principals hide behind a few irrational people to make this kind of decision? Needless to say, our elementary community is livid. Is there anyway we can change the principal’s mind at this point?

[Anonymous]

"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

[Anonymous]

Posts like these- which we used to get every single year, really make me feel the pandemic is over.

OP, celebrate Halloween however you like. Have a party if you want! Invite all the students; sounds like a blast. But you aren’t entitled to celebrate it at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Who cares about the kids who don’t? The rest of the school has to be held hostage to their freakish ways? This is just another example of right-wing, Christian influence in our schools. I am sick of right wingers and their cancel culture.

[Anonymous]

Our FCPS school does spirit week with themed dress up. The school says "no costumes" but kids usually wear their costume on Halloween anyway and just say it fits the theme.

I think it's silly, but the actual experience for the kids is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school decided to cancel our Halloween parade and is not allowing the kids to wear costumes. The decision was made because other elementary schools in our cluster have decided not to celebrate.

When majority of the community is for celebrating Halloween, why do principals hide behind a few irrational people to make this kind of decision? Needless to say, our elementary community is livid. Is there anyway we can change the principal’s mind at this point?

Your whole elementary school community is “livid”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Cake and goody bags? People left behind on the gym? What on earth?

Our school has a “book character day” where you can dress up as your favorite character and bring the book that character is in. If you don’t have the book, the library will give you a copy. Then you parade outside for 10 min right after drop off, and that’s it. If you don’t want to wear a costume, no big deal.

It’s when Halloween becomes this ridiculously big thing that things get out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Who cares about the kids who don’t? The rest of the school has to be held hostage to their freakish ways? This is just another example of right-wing, Christian influence in our schools. I am sick of right wingers and their cancel culture.

Wait, who cares about the kids who don’t? That’s a low blow to the KIDS whose family will not allow them to participate. The truth is, I love Halloween but I also understand that if we are having school wide events DURING the school day, it must be inclusive of ALL children. Halloween is not celebrated by some organized religious groups but the same holds true for Christmas and Easter. The schools also do not celebrate these holidays because it’s not inclusive of all. School should be the one place that all children can fully participate in EVERY SINGLE DAY!

[Anonymous]

It’s technically public property so everyone should just do a trunk or treat at the school, or go through car pool docked out.

They also just can’t send home 500 students that didn’t get the memo and show up in costumes anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Who cares about the kids who don’t? The rest of the school has to be held hostage to their freakish ways? This is just another example of right-wing, Christian influence in our schools. I am sick of right wingers and their cancel culture.

Wait, who cares about the kids who don’t? That’s a low blow to the KIDS whose family will not allow them to participate. The truth is, I love Halloween but I also understand that if we are having school wide events DURING the school day, it must be inclusive of ALL children. Halloween is not celebrated by some organized religious groups but the same holds true for Christmas and Easter. The schools also do not celebrate these holidays because it’s not inclusive of all. School should be the one place that all children can fully participate in EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Another Halloween lover here who agrees. Our principal said it at BTS night: We don’t celebrate Halloween because not all of our families can. I can’t argue with that. And thank goodness they don’t do the book dress up thing-then I had to dish out for Halloween costumes AND a book character costume, which my kids really didn’t get into anyway. My kids are not having the exact same school experience I did and that’s ok. We still do Halloween big at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Who cares about the kids who don’t? The rest of the school has to be held hostage to their freakish ways? This is just another example of right-wing, Christian influence in our schools. I am sick of right wingers and their cancel culture.

Ok now I think you’re a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Who cares about the kids who don’t? The rest of the school has to be held hostage to their freakish ways? This is just another example of right-wing, Christian influence in our schools. I am sick of right wingers and their cancel culture.

Wait, who cares about the kids who don’t? That’s a low blow to the KIDS whose family will not allow them to participate. The truth is, I love Halloween but I also understand that if we are having school wide events DURING the school day, it must be inclusive of ALL children. Halloween is not celebrated by some organized religious groups but the same holds true for Christmas and Easter. The schools also do not celebrate these holidays because it’s not inclusive of all. School should be the one place that all children can fully participate in EVERY SINGLE DAY!

So you think kids should only be exposed to activities that are inclusive of all children?

That’s the best way to prepare them for life, right?

Where everything is inclusive and fair and sunshine and roses?

Do you see Tattoo often on the island?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Livid"? Okay but why? Yes it's fun, but not everyone doe's celebrate Halloween. For the kids who don't, 1-4 adults have to be held back in the gym to take those kids who don't and do some activity while the rest of the school parties. Dealing with the influx of parent volunteers or spectators is hectic for the front office. Dealing with parents who refuse to follow the rules for what kind of food can be brought in is annoying. Some room parents do a lot and that class gets a cake, a ton of candy, and goody bags, whereas the other classroom next door gets much less because that parent didn't know that next door would be a big bash.

I also loved watching the parades when my kids were younger. It's sad when a school cancels it, but they didn't cancel Halloween--your kid can still go trick or treating. They just canceled it IN school. I would be sad, not livid.

Cake and goody bags? People left behind on the gym? What on earth?

Our school has a “book character day” where you can dress up as your favorite character and bring the book that character is in. If you don’t have the book, the library will give you a copy. Then you parade outside for 10 min right after drop off, and that’s it. If you don’t want to wear a costume, no big deal.

It’s when Halloween becomes this ridiculously big thing that things get out of control.

NP - Some parents do not let their kids participate because of their religious beliefs so yes they have to sit in a gym or empty classroom while their friends are parading, playing games, getting goodies.

FWIW, the book character is a much better idea! It's connected to learning unlike Halloween.

[Anonymous]

Halloween is on a Monday. Why not organize a community Halloween Parade on the Saturday or Sunday before Halloween? Or a parade after school?

Some families have religious reasons to not celebrate Halloween. Be respectful and start new traditions outside of a public school.

[Anonymous]

Principal sounds like a grinch.