Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

Cut back on PE, cut back on recess, cut back on Halloween. Increase in mental health issues. Who benefits from that beside the mental health industry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

I think even you know that that isn't a parallel scenario.

Why not? People are saying Halloween celebrations in school are wasting half a day of learning time so it's okay to cancel them.

Because in your neighborhood everyone can participate or no one can participate, whatever each family chooses to do is fine. In school, if families choose not to participate, the school needs to create an alternate activity/space/staffing plan. It's a reasonable decision for a principal to choose not to do that.

[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.

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.

This is what our school does, too, and I hate it. I can't afford separate costumes so they just wear what their Halloween costume (can't be scary or gory), and I cross my fingers none gets ruined so we can go trick-or-treating that evening. Even worse, this is when our school takes class photos so the only class photo we get all year (if we buy it) is one with kids in costume so you can't even tell who is who.

It's pretty easy to find a costume that you can argue is in a book. Everybody from anime characters to old fashioned pirates, or Dracula, princesses, etc. has a book.

[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.

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.

This is what our school does, too, and I hate it. I can't afford separate costumes so they just wear what their Halloween costume (can't be scary or gory), and I cross my fingers none gets ruined so we can go trick-or-treating that evening. Even worse, this is when our school takes class photos so the only class photo we get all year (if we buy it) is one with kids in costume so you can't even tell who is who.

It's pretty easy to find a costume that you can argue is in a book. Everybody from anime characters to old fashioned pirates, or Dracula, princesses, etc. has a book.

Hey, I have a great idea -- let's let everyone dress up in various costumes, and if your kids want to dress up like characters in a book, they can do that! And if they want to dress up like characters from a movie they can do that, too. Also add candy corn-decorated cupcakes and a parade! How does that sound? Oh wait....

[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.

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.

This is what our school does, too, and I hate it. I can't afford separate costumes so they just wear what their Halloween costume (can't be scary or gory), and I cross my fingers none gets ruined so we can go trick-or-treating that evening. Even worse, this is when our school takes class photos so the only class photo we get all year (if we buy it) is one with kids in costume so you can't even tell who is who.

It's pretty easy to find a costume that you can argue is in a book. Everybody from anime characters to old fashioned pirates, or Dracula, princesses, etc. has a book.

Hey, I have a great idea -- let's let everyone dress up in various costumes, and if your kids want to dress up like characters in a book, they can do that! And if they want to dress up like characters from a movie they can do that, too. Also add candy corn-decorated cupcakes and a parade! How does that sound? Oh wait....

And the kids whose families don't have the money or time or interest in providing a costume...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cut back on PE, cut back on recess, cut back on Halloween. Increase in mental health issues. Who benefits from that beside the mental health industry?

Yep.

Our ES cut recess a few years ago and extended the school day a few minutes.

My ES kid in a Tier 2 school doesn’t get off the bus until 4:25 many days.

They cut recess to add in more learning time, but seem to have made time to do SEL lessons using Leader in Me. I guess Leader in Me is making money! And the mental health industry is currently booming. Follow the cash, that’s often the way to figure out what is really going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 also had immigrant parents and totally agree. It was nice when there were some holidays that it felt like we could all celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

This is what our school does, too, and I hate it. I can't afford separate costumes so they just wear what their Halloween costume (can't be scary or gory), and I cross my fingers none gets ruined so we can go trick-or-treating that evening. Even worse, this is when our school takes class photos so the only class photo we get all year (if we buy it) is one with kids in costume so you can't even tell who is who.

It's pretty easy to find a costume that you can argue is in a book. Everybody from anime characters to old fashioned pirates, or Dracula, princesses, etc. has a book.

Hey, I have a great idea -- let's let everyone dress up in various costumes, and if your kids want to dress up like characters in a book, they can do that! And if they want to dress up like characters from a movie they can do that, too. Also add candy corn-decorated cupcakes and a parade! How does that sound? Oh wait....

And the kids whose families don't have the money or time or interest in providing a costume...?

We live in a lower income area and my kids attend a Title 1 elementary school. The families have options in this county. There are numerous locations that offer free clothing and costumes are often included. We used to collect costumes.

For Valentine’s Day, the front office keeps boxes of extra valentines for kids who don’t bring any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

Agreed.

Especially when I have not read a single legitimate reason for cancelling Halloween in schools. Not one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cut back on PE, cut back on recess, cut back on Halloween. Increase in mental health issues. Who benefits from that beside the mental health industry?

Yep.

Our ES cut recess a few years ago and extended the school day a few minutes.

My ES kid in a Tier 2 school doesn’t get off the bus until 4:25 many days.

They cut recess to add in more learning time, but seem to have made time to do SEL lessons using Leader in Me. I guess Leader in Me is making money! And the mental health industry is currently booming. Follow the cash, that’s often the way to figure out what is really going on.

They have no choice but to appease the loud parents that complained about mental health issues from DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

Agreed.

Especially when I have not read a single legitimate reason for cancelling Halloween in schools. Not one.

Many Christians see it as a celebration of satanism so want it canceled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

Agreed.

Especially when I have not read a single legitimate reason for cancelling Halloween in schools. Not one.

Many Christians see it as a celebration of satanism so want it canceled.

She said "legitimate."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, and I no longer have kids in elementary. I just think it is sad to cancel Halloween when it is a long standing fun tradition in the county. I grew up with an MCPS elementary school behind my house and loved the days when I was older and saw the parades. If it wasn’t such a long tradition I might feel differently.

Once again for the slow people in the back, that did not happen.

That is EXACTLY what happened. MCPS elementary schools often had fun Halloween parades on the black top. Now, those parades are banned.

That doesn't cancel Halloween.

MCPS did since it's a religious school district now.

Will your porch light be on Oct 31? Will you welcome kids demanding candy? Voila! Halloween is not cancelled.

I understand that it continues to be confusing for some posters here...but this is the "MCPS" board, not the "Real Estate" board.

What's confusing is that some people think Halloween celebrations at school are some sort of Important American Tradition, and that a principal deciding not to take time away from the school day to have parties or parades is destroying the community. Things change. Celebrate all you want in your home and neighborhood. Move on.

You move on. We like our traditions. Traditions hold communities together.

Our neighborhood has had a small Halloween parade for several years. It's much better than having it at school, as kids (and/or adults) of all ages can be included in it together. It would be easy enough to get one started. Mention the idea on you neighborhood listserv, or post a sign on a corner.

Then we better start lobbying to stop that, because streets are for driving on, not having Halloween parades. See how that works?

I had a great time celebrating Halloween in school. So did my older kid. So did the generation before us. Leave that tradition alone -- it's worked for literally generations. It's a screaming good time for kids and creates memories that last a lifetime. It drives parents into the schools to volunteer, giving their own kids an experience they themselves had and remember fondly. Leave it alone.

I think even you know that that isn't a parallel scenario.

Why not? People are saying Halloween celebrations in school are wasting half a day of learning time so it's okay to cancel them.

Because in your neighborhood everyone can participate or no one can participate, whatever each family chooses to do is fine. In school, if families choose not to participate, the school needs to create an alternate activity/space/staffing plan. It's a reasonable decision for a principal to choose not to do that.

Agreed. Especially with all of the complaints about loss of learning time due to COVID, Teacher work days etc. Make up your minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 am not White, not Christian and not Hispanic. I come from a totally different culture and we also have religious fanatics that work hard to ‘cancel’ what they disagree with.

I feel that the liberal progressives in this County have their own form of quasi-religious extremism where they actively work to push their values on everyone else.

This isn't pushing values on anyone else. MCPS screams being inclusive and yet, the same folks who aren't getting the issue, what their religious holidays followed. This has nothing to do with Christianity. NOTHING. It has to do with cultural practices and schools with high populations of Hispanic families often opt out. Schools can do a fall festival and be inclusive. The same families who are screaming for Halloween and their kids being accepted are the same ones who are least respectful to others practices.

Halloween is not a real holiday so you can celebrate it on your time. The liberal progressives who preach inclusivity should at least understand this and be culturally sensitive.

I literally don't understand, so enlighten me. What is their objection to Halloween? I've seen a few Hispanic PPs say that doesn't represent the community more generally.