Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is what our friends school in Arlington does. Nothing at school, but they have a walking/biking parade on the weekend for those that want to participate. That way, the children do not feel excluded with it thrown in their face.

[Anonymous]

Half a day of teaching lost to Halloween festivities. My family celebrates Halloween but we are ok with the decision to not have a parade and class parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principal sounds like a grinch.

Most likely the principal was encouraged by the Director in Central Office if other schools in the cluster are also ending Halloween celebrations.

[Anonymous]

Greenwood?

Yes, this came as quite a surprise to me.

It’s sad that fringe religious beliefs prompted the elimination of this tradition. Even stranger that the school seemingly doesn’t have many (any?) students who don’t celebrate Halloween.

[Anonymous]

Does Kensington Parkwood still have a Halloween event?

Demographics are comparable to Greenwood.

[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?

They likely have no choice but to respect their religious views. In today's world, crazy and irrational beliefs trump common sense just ask the supreme court.

[Anonymous]

Wow OP poor you. OMG poor you.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/90/837190.page

This came up last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow OP poor you. OMG poor you.

Not worried about the slippery slope?

It starts in mcps.

Are community centers, libraries, towns, etc. next?

Gilead didn’t happen overnight.

[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.

umm I’m Christian and I celebrate Halloween with my kid. She even goes to a Christian school now and they did a Halloween parade last year. Having said that, our mcps elem did not when we were there and it was fine. We had a backyard party with friends then did TOT in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

If we did Halloween stuff at school when I was growing up I have no memory of it. And I have extremely happy memories of actual Halloween: choosing and making costumes with friends and going trick or treating.

My point is: the school celebration is not required to make Halloween fun.

[Anonymous]

It is the guiding principle of MCPS to suck every bit of joy out of ES while simultaneously degrading the educational experience. They’re extraordinarily talented to that end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the guiding principle of MCPS to suck every bit of joy out of ES while simultaneously degrading the educational experience. They’re extraordinarily talented to that end.

This.

I have had kids in MCPS elementary schools for the past decade.

Our ES got rid of Halloween when my oldest was there. Teachers can’t even read a book about Halloween.

Halloween has always been an important part of American culture. I say that as an immigrant, who always lives the idea of American Halloween.

Yet another way we’re eroding away our coming culture in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I think that when kids like yours, who are raised by someone who is cruel, are exposed to another option, like kindness to people who are different, they can learn that it’s an option, and then there is a chance they will also choose kindness and inclusivity as adults and stop the cycle.

Will it happen 100% of the time? No, of course not. Will they grow up thinking the whole world is kind? No, people like you will make sure that doesn’t happen, but at least they will have choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I think that when kids like yours, who are raised by someone who is cruel, are exposed to another option, like kindness to people who are different, they can learn that it’s an option, and then there is a chance they will also choose kindness and inclusivity as adults and stop the cycle.

Will it happen 100% of the time? No, of course not. Will they grow up thinking the whole world is kind? No, people like you will make sure that doesn’t happen, but at least they will have choices.

GMAFB. You actually don’t sound very kind. You sound judgmental.