Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I wish they'd do a fall celebration/festival instead. I always felt so bad when 4-6 kids had to go to the library because they opted out.

So you have no problem with literally hundreds of kids missing out instead of 4-6? Weird.

Kids can celebrate Halloween at home. I'd prefer to be inclusive and practice what adults preach vs. having it all just for show. Really, kids don't care if they have a party and cupcakes.

Have the Halloween celebration at school and you'll get 95+% interest/participation. That seems inclusive to me.

4-6 kids out of 16-20 is not good participation. And, given some families, don't participate it is not inclusive. You want inclusive as long as it includes your beliefs and culture, just not others.

it's OUR culture. Or are you saying there is no American culture? Because we all come from various parts of the world and bring various cultures with us. If we can't agree 100% then we have -- no culture?

Yes, American culture is about my beliefs and my culture. That should go for everyone living in America. This is OUR culture.

The only culture currently allowed is cancel culture. And you see some of its cheerleaders in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reason among the many why private school is the way to go. My kid gets to celebrate Halloween, Easter and Christmas in the classroom. She doesn't have to take a day off for Jewish holidays. It is beautiful.

+1. Kids are only little once. Let them enjoy the fun parts of childhood.

Yeah staying home from school for Jewish holidays is such an imposition on “the fun parts of childhood.” Good thing PP’s daughter doesn’t have to miss school for Jewish holidays. Bless. /s

Is it fun to mangle the post to make yourself feel bad? That poster is obviously saying that kids have a right to celebrate fun things like Halloween.

[Anonymous]

If we cancel Halloween because it conflicts with some people’s religious beliefs then we have to be ok opening the door to Christian conservative parents complaining about books/lesson plans they don’t believe in. As a dem I think the far left is going down a scary path with trying to legitimize people’s religious beliefs and in public schools no less. And it’s not just Halloween. It’s things like not letting any kids sit for AP exams during Ramadan. What happens when someone says they can’t engage in physical activity during X day/time, will we have to get rid of sports? What if a student complains they can’t do a certain activity with someone of the opposite gender? Will we have to segregate non-athletic extracurriculars? What happens when someone says interacting with a trans person is against their religion? Will we really validate that religious request if there is a trans student in the classroom?

We should not be going down this path with religion.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reason among the many why private school is the way to go. My kid gets to celebrate Halloween, Easter and Christmas in the classroom. She doesn't have to take a day off for Jewish holidays. It is beautiful.

+1. Kids are only little once. Let them enjoy the fun parts of childhood.

Yeah staying home from school for Jewish holidays is such an imposition on “the fun parts of childhood.” Good thing PP’s daughter doesn’t have to miss school for Jewish holidays. Bless. /s

Taking two whole days in the middle of the week for Jewish holidays is an imposition. It takes away from other holidays that they might get to enjoy, like Columbus Day.

No one celebrates Columbus Day. Kids don't care which day is off if they aren't Jewish. We take those days off in MCPS because there are a lot of Jewish students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Our school does book character day and kids take the time to share their favorite stories with each other. It’s super cute to watch.

Why can't you do that some other time?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The focus seems to have changed from inclusivity and a celebration of the many cultures in America to a bland, homogenized monoculture that has no traditions at all other than "be kind, be mindful, be positive". In the 90s we had a "Holiday Concert" with non-religious Christmas songs, Hannukah, Kwanzaa and generic winter stuff like "Frosty the Snowman." Now that would be verboten.

I know the far-right Christian Taliban think Halloween is a satanic holiday and try to cancel it.

All of the blame for this falls squarely on the shoulders of the Christian extremists in this County. 100%.

Are you too truly that clueless? Its often Hispanic families who opt out.

Anddddddd they are the Christian extremists. That title doesn’t only belong to whites. I was the pp who posted in the early pages. I’m Hispanic. In Spanish there is a nickname for this group and it’s legalistas. It was awful growing up like that and I don’t think the schools should cancel traditional celebrations to cater to extremist groups.

I agree. Halloween is not religious. It’s a cultural tradition like Valentine’s Day. When we cancel routine celebrations that have occurred for decades to cater to a religious group, then the school is choosing to prioritize religion. And as someone who thinks religion is made up BS, I don’t think my kids should have to make sacrifices for others religious beliefs. The burden of following religious beliefs should fall on that family and they can take their kids out of school that day if it’s such a big deal to them. Maybe the parade can be the last 2 hours of the day on a Friday so it’s just an early pickup and not middle of the day.

If there are logistical challenges such as too many parents coming to watch then just live stream it like they did during COVID. But no sorry, I don’t feel the need to change any of our traditions to cater to the people who believe in made up woo.

Are you always such a selfish a-hole?? Judgmental?? Me me me! We’ll guess what nasty ass, it’s not all about you anymore. Religious freedom.

Religious freedom means you are free to practice and observe your religious beliefs. The rest of us do not have to follow your beliefs and thinking activities should be canceled if they’re not in line with your religious beliefs is the ultimate in selfishness so it’s quite ironic you called me selfish when you want everyone to accommodate you.

First of all, you're ignorant. No questions asked. You're a POS. Second of all, each school district in the United States has 180 days of school- districts can freely choose which days to take off within those mandated days. Why does it bother you if a student gets a day off for a Jewish holiday rather than a random Tuesday in April? You're the problem. I'd take a good look in the mirror. You won't like what you see.

DP

Wow. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

PP, you are the one who needs to take a good hard look in the mirror. With your personal insults and curses.

+1 I stopped reading her post at the bolded. Why waste time on the opinions of someone like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holidays are for celebrating with your family and community, not with school.

School is community. At least it used to be.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reason among the many why private school is the way to go. My kid gets to celebrate Halloween, Easter and Christmas in the classroom. She doesn't have to take a day off for Jewish holidays. It is beautiful.

+1. Kids are only little once. Let them enjoy the fun parts of childhood.

Yeah staying home from school for Jewish holidays is such an imposition on “the fun parts of childhood.” Good thing PP’s daughter doesn’t have to miss school for Jewish holidays. Bless. /s

Taking two whole days in the middle of the week for Jewish holidays is an imposition. It takes away from other holidays that they might get to enjoy, like Columbus Day.

No one celebrates Columbus Day. Kids don't care which day is off if they aren't Jewish. We take those days off in MCPS because there are a lot of Jewish students.

And teachers. And substitutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holidays are for celebrating with your family and community, not with school.

Wait, what?? Schools IS part of your ‘community’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we cancel Halloween because it conflicts with some people’s religious beliefs then we have to be ok opening the door to Christian conservative parents complaining about books/lesson plans they don’t believe in. As a dem I think the far left is going down a scary path with trying to legitimize people’s religious beliefs and in public schools no less. And it’s not just Halloween. It’s things like not letting any kids sit for AP exams during Ramadan. What happens when someone says they can’t engage in physical activity during X day/time, will we have to get rid of sports? What if a student complains they can’t do a certain activity with someone of the opposite gender? Will we have to segregate non-athletic extracurriculars? What happens when someone says interacting with a trans person is against their religion? Will we really validate that religious request if there is a trans student in the classroom?

We should not be going down this path with religion.

I completely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t wanna be accused of sock puppeting so I’ll tell you I’m the previous two comments. Dances are also sinful so watch out for homecoming and prom.

This. Where do we plan to draw the line in what we allow to be ‘cancelled’?

I live in Silver Spring and the family next door is Guatemalan. They are devout Christians and I talk with the mom often. Our kids are at the same ES and MS. The mom is horrified by the books the kids have access to in the library. She wouldn’t let her DC join Book Wars because the books were often about LGBQT issues.

Wait until the White fundamentalist Christians find out how much they have in common with the newly arrived immigrants. And wait until they join forces for their ‘cause’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we cancel Halloween because it conflicts with some people’s religious beliefs then we have to be ok opening the door to Christian conservative parents complaining about books/lesson plans they don’t believe in. As a dem I think the far left is going down a scary path with trying to legitimize people’s religious beliefs and in public schools no less. And it’s not just Halloween. It’s things like not letting any kids sit for AP exams during Ramadan. What happens when someone says they can’t engage in physical activity during X day/time, will we have to get rid of sports? What if a student complains they can’t do a certain activity with someone of the opposite gender? Will we have to segregate non-athletic extracurriculars? What happens when someone says interacting with a trans person is against their religion? Will we really validate that religious request if there is a trans student in the classroom?

We should not be going down this path with religion.

We’ll said. I agree 100%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we cancel Halloween because it conflicts with some people’s religious beliefs then we have to be ok opening the door to Christian conservative parents complaining about books/lesson plans they don’t believe in. As a dem I think the far left is going down a scary path with trying to legitimize people’s religious beliefs and in public schools no less. And it’s not just Halloween. It’s things like not letting any kids sit for AP exams during Ramadan. What happens when someone says they can’t engage in physical activity during X day/time, will we have to get rid of sports? What if a student complains they can’t do a certain activity with someone of the opposite gender? Will we have to segregate non-athletic extracurriculars? What happens when someone says interacting with a trans person is against their religion? Will we really validate that religious request if there is a trans student in the classroom?

We should not be going down this path with religion.

Halloween isn't canceled. Grow up already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reason among the many why private school is the way to go. My kid gets to celebrate Halloween, Easter and Christmas in the classroom. She doesn't have to take a day off for Jewish holidays. It is beautiful.

+1. Kids are only little once. Let them enjoy the fun parts of childhood.

Yeah staying home from school for Jewish holidays is such an imposition on “the fun parts of childhood.” Good thing PP’s daughter doesn’t have to miss school for Jewish holidays. Bless. /s

Taking two whole days in the middle of the week for Jewish holidays is an imposition. It takes away from other holidays that they might get to enjoy, like Columbus Day.

No one celebrates Columbus Day. Kids don't care which day is off if they aren't Jewish. We take those days off in MCPS because there are a lot of Jewish students.

Actually, we take them off because we cannot get enough subs to cover those days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reason among the many why private school is the way to go. My kid gets to celebrate Halloween, Easter and Christmas in the classroom. She doesn't have to take a day off for Jewish holidays. It is beautiful.

+1. Kids are only little once. Let them enjoy the fun parts of childhood.

Yeah staying home from school for Jewish holidays is such an imposition on “the fun parts of childhood.” Good thing PP’s daughter doesn’t have to miss school for Jewish holidays. Bless. /s

Taking two whole days in the middle of the week for Jewish holidays is an imposition. It takes away from other holidays that they might get to enjoy, like Columbus Day.

No one celebrates Columbus Day. Kids don't care which day is off if they aren't Jewish. We take those days off in MCPS because there are a lot of Jewish students.

We get them off as they don't have enough subs to cover.