Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, say it isn't so! Next, will they cancel Christmas?

Not everyone celebrates christmas, which is why schools don't. You celebrate at home.. simple. I would not let my kids celebrate just a christmas party. Not our holiday.

You wouldn’t let them attend a Christmas party? Are you really this extraordinarily close-minded?

At school, especially as a child, you feel like you're not being given a choice. You will sing this Christmas song, you will watch a Santa movie...even though you're well aware that that's not at all a part of your life. And it's not done in a way to educate, it's done under the guise of "Christmas is for EVERYONE" and of course this is fun for you! Except that it's not.

Outside of school, you're CHOOSING as a family to help celebrate the holiday of a friend, neighbor etc.

I love going to Christmas parties when people I care about invite me. I do NOT like it being shoved down my throat in public or at school/work.

Our kids are supposed to learn about all different cultures in school. We had people come in and share food from their countries with the entire class, etc. Why can't we discuss Christmas, too? It's part of mainstream culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, say it isn't so! Next, will they cancel Christmas?

Not everyone celebrates christmas, which is why schools don't. You celebrate at home.. simple. I would not let my kids celebrate just a christmas party. Not our holiday.

You wouldn’t let them attend a Christmas party? Are you really this extraordinarily close-minded?

At school, especially as a child, you feel like you're not being given a choice. You will sing this Christmas song, you will watch a Santa movie...even though you're well aware that that's not at all a part of your life. And it's not done in a way to educate, it's done under the guise of "Christmas is for EVERYONE" and of course this is fun for you! Except that it's not.

Outside of school, you're CHOOSING as a family to help celebrate the holiday of a friend, neighbor etc.

I love going to Christmas parties when people I care about invite me. I do NOT like it being shoved down my throat in public or at school/work.

The commercialization of Christmas in public (already beginning now) must be hard for you given your generally intolerant attitude.

How is intolerant to not enjoy something that holds no meaning for you?

I have friends who fast during Ramadan. I've researched what they eat before the day begins and to break the fast, and gave them a few food gifts to help them celebrate Ramadan. I didn't say it holds no meaning for me so I don't give a crap about it. That's not an American attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, say it isn't so! Next, will they cancel Christmas?

Not everyone celebrates christmas, which is why schools don't. You celebrate at home.. simple. I would not let my kids celebrate just a christmas party. Not our holiday.

You wouldn’t let them attend a Christmas party? Are you really this extraordinarily close-minded?

At school, especially as a child, you feel like you're not being given a choice. You will sing this Christmas song, you will watch a Santa movie...even though you're well aware that that's not at all a part of your life. And it's not done in a way to educate, it's done under the guise of "Christmas is for EVERYONE" and of course this is fun for you! Except that it's not.

Outside of school, you're CHOOSING as a family to help celebrate the holiday of a friend, neighbor etc.

I love going to Christmas parties when people I care about invite me. I do NOT like it being shoved down my throat in public or at school/work.

You need to let it go. I'm not into a lot of things either but I don't let it bother me. I understand they bring joy to others.

I agree with you, PP. But you will never convince people like the totally intolerant and miserable PP. Unfortunately, I know many people like this in real life. Especially here in Montgomery County. They are intolerant and miserable people who want to control what other people do and want to impose their ideals on others (it was super obvious during Covid!).

LOL troll.

[Anonymous]

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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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Then horrors upon horrors, let them participate in something they would enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously Halloween itself is enough. An evening of costumes and huge bags of candy is pretty terrific. Having a school party is like doubling the icing on the cake, it doesn't really make a difference. If you are raising a stink about this but don't know the ins and outs of the curriculum your priorities are misplaced.

That's how it looks to you, because you are an adult. That's not how it is for kids -- because they are kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously Halloween itself is enough. An evening of costumes and huge bags of candy is pretty terrific. Having a school party is like doubling the icing on the cake, it doesn't really make a difference. If you are raising a stink about this but don't know the ins and outs of the curriculum your priorities are misplaced.

That's how it looks to you, because you are an adult. That's not how it is for kids -- because they are kids.

got it HALLOWEEN = FUN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, say it isn't so! Next, will they cancel Christmas?

Not everyone celebrates christmas, which is why schools don't. You celebrate at home.. simple. I would not let my kids celebrate just a christmas party. Not our holiday.

You wouldn’t let them attend a Christmas party? Are you really this extraordinarily close-minded?

At school, especially as a child, you feel like you're not being given a choice. You will sing this Christmas song, you will watch a Santa movie...even though you're well aware that that's not at all a part of your life. And it's not done in a way to educate, it's done under the guise of "Christmas is for EVERYONE" and of course this is fun for you! Except that it's not.

Outside of school, you're CHOOSING as a family to help celebrate the holiday of a friend, neighbor etc.

I love going to Christmas parties when people I care about invite me. I do NOT like it being shoved down my throat in public or at school/work.

The commercialization of Christmas in public (already beginning now) must be hard for you given your generally intolerant attitude.

How is intolerant to not enjoy something that holds no meaning for you?

Are you a child in school? This isn't about you. It's obvious life brings you little joy, but the majority don't need you and your dour miserable attitude to speak for them. Why be such a wet blanket?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously Halloween itself is enough. An evening of costumes and huge bags of candy is pretty terrific. Having a school party is like doubling the icing on the cake, it doesn't really make a difference. If you are raising a stink about this but don't know the ins and outs of the curriculum your priorities are misplaced.

That's how it looks to you, because you are an adult. That's not how it is for kids -- because they are kids.

got it HALLOWEEN = FUN

Well, that makes it an obvious target for MCPS and its cancel culture cheerleaders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

This.

[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:

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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

This.

But this sounds like that cancel culture stuff I heard about on Tucker last night.

[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:

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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

They aren't being canceled. Its a school choice but a fall festival is far more inclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

This.

But this sounds like that cancel culture stuff I heard about on Tucker last night.

I'd like to cancel Tucker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

My school canceled it because about 80 to 100 kids were opting out. It just doesn't make sense to create a tradition when that many families are refusing to participate

The school is not ‘creating’ a tradition. If the school continues to allow Halloween celebrations at school, it is continuing a uniquely American tradition that has been enjoyed by kids for decades.

Instead, the school is choosing to cater to religious families and force everyone to abandon this tradition.

Also, how large is your school? My kid’s elementary school has 700 kids. If 80-100 kids didn’t participate, there are still 600 kids who will! In other words, the schooo is taking something fun away from 600 kids, to appease the religious families?

500 kids so about 1/5 of the kids were not participating. Also from a logistical standpoint it's fine to offer an alternative activity for a handful of kids but when you're getting up to that many kids not participating it's a lot of kids to figure out alternative programming

How about this?

The Halloween festivities start at 2pm. If you don’t want your child to participate, you can pick them up at 2.

Seems like an unfair burden to place on parents who might rely on bus transportation to get their children home.

Or their kids could just participate in something they don't celebrate at home. Not the end of the world to learn how to live in society, with a lot of other people who probably won't be exactly like you.

THIS! This is exactly what America should be about.

I am a kid of immigrants whose parents came from another country. If I went to another country, I would celebrate their holidays, not ask them to cancel them.

They aren't being canceled. Its a school choice but a fall festival is far more inclusive.

How? What if some students don’t celebrate the seasons? What then?