Our elementary school canceled Halloween

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble understanding the strong feelings in this thread. Halloween is fun, but isn't it still fun if you don't celebrate it at school? I have read the majority of the posts, and I just don't get why this is something people are angry about.

I can try to explain. I'm angry that schools are cancelling a fun, well-liked, secular tradition to accommodate a small group of religious fanatics. That's actually pretty scary to me.

I'm glad that you're happy with the changes, but it's actually pretty understandable that some parents would be saddened to see that a school tradition is now being cancelled.

Does that make sense to you?

My kid's school stopped with Halloween years ago. They went with black and orange day instead. Activities focus on fall. This was done to include kids with religious beliefs or backgrounds that don't recognize Halloween. Kids still have fun.

Nobody's religious beliefs or backgrounds recognize Halloween. It's costume day with candy and cartoonish spooky decorations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we might want to think about what it means when we “feel sad” for kids who aren’t able to participate in Halloween for religious beliefs of their parents/family.

I mean, that’s rather paternalistic and judgmental even if unintentional.

I have had students like that and I've expressed empathy but also acknowledge that they need to honor their parents' wishes now but they can choose their own path in adulthood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble understanding the strong feelings in this thread. Halloween is fun, but isn't it still fun if you don't celebrate it at school? I have read the majority of the posts, and I just don't get why this is something people are angry about.

I can try to explain. I'm angry that schools are cancelling a fun, well-liked, secular tradition to accommodate a small group of religious fanatics. That's actually pretty scary to me.

I'm glad that you're happy with the changes, but it's actually pretty understandable that some parents would be saddened to see that a school tradition is now being cancelled.

Does that make sense to you?

My kid's school stopped with Halloween years ago. They went with black and orange day instead. Activities focus on fall. This was done to include kids with religious beliefs or backgrounds that don't recognize Halloween. Kids still have fun.

Nobody's religious beliefs or backgrounds recognize Halloween. It's costume day with candy and cartoonish spooky decorations.

Beg to differ.

Orthodox Jews do not celebrate secular holidays. Neither do fundamentalist Christians or Muslims. Pentacostal, Jehovah's witnesses and 7th day adventusits also are against secular holidays like Halloween

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was on the extreme side of extreme, she would also pull me out of a fall festival because in her pov it’s just Halloween with a different name.

What religion? What ethnicity? Where did you grow up?

I’m surprised this is such a big issue in mcps beyond newcomers. I have family in TX who are surrounded by Latinos who celebrate Halloween, but they aren’t newcomers—they are 2nd or 3rd generation.

I posted in the first few pages. I’m Latina and my parents were extreme Evangelists as in not cutting your hair and no pants variety. The majority of Latinos celebrated Halloween just not The extreme branches of Christianity. my family immigrated here when I was two, I grew up in Silver Spring and went to MCPS. I said in the first pages and I’ll say it again, I don’t think the county should bow down and conform to religious extremism. Frankly, I see that as dangerous.

Although they have changed over the years, my parents opposed any LGBT books, sex Ed (I was also pulled out for this), any books about magic (no Harry Potter for me), school dances. The list goes on and on!

I came to MoCo with my parents from El Salvador in the '80s. My family is very very religious (Catholic) and my parents love Halloween. It was something I was so excited to experience when I started school in the US. I have seen the waves of Central American immigrants change as more evangelicals from the US go down there on "mission" trips. The no pants, long hair evangelicos do not celebrate Halloween, but they are also (in general) not requesting it be removed from school. Yet they are the ones that will be/are being blamed for it. I have many people in my circle who are part of this evangelical community who keep their kids home from school on Halloween, do not allow celebrating, etc. But they do not object to others celebrating it (we're all going to hell, but I guess that's not their problem lol). The culture of most of central America means that parents would never, ever make a "demand" to the school, as teachers are highly respected and recognized as experts. Parents are not welcome to give their input.

The way I see it, well-meaning people are trying to be inclusive and don't want kids to feel left out. But the parents of those kids don't care if they feel left out. Their faith is more important, and it means getting left out of stuff. They want their kids to learn that.

Yeah. Honestly I think teachers and administration just feels guilty if you have a gym full of kids (mostly ethnic minorities,) not participating while the umc (mostly white) kids are having fun in a parade or party. The optics look gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble understanding the strong feelings in this thread. Halloween is fun, but isn't it still fun if you don't celebrate it at school? I have read the majority of the posts, and I just don't get why this is something people are angry about.

I can try to explain. I'm angry that schools are cancelling a fun, well-liked, secular tradition to accommodate a small group of religious fanatics. That's actually pretty scary to me.

I'm glad that you're happy with the changes, but it's actually pretty understandable that some parents would be saddened to see that a school tradition is now being cancelled.

Does that make sense to you?

My kid's school stopped with Halloween years ago. They went with black and orange day instead. Activities focus on fall. This was done to include kids with religious beliefs or backgrounds that don't recognize Halloween. Kids still have fun.

Nobody's religious beliefs or backgrounds recognize Halloween. It's costume day with candy and cartoonish spooky decorations.

Beg to differ.

Orthodox Jews do not celebrate secular holidays. Neither do fundamentalist Christians or Muslims. Pentacostal, Jehovah's witnesses and 7th day adventusits also are against secular holidays like Halloween

They're against costume and candy day? So the answer to their intolerance is more intolerance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we might want to think about what it means when we “feel sad” for kids who aren’t able to participate in Halloween for religious beliefs of their parents/family.

I mean, that’s rather paternalistic and judgmental even if unintentional.

I find that to be the case for so many of my ‘progressive’ liberal neighbors in MoCo. Incredibly paternalistic and a bit condescending.

THIS. I am pretty liberal and progressive myself, but I am really, really icked out by the condescension and patronization inherent in our school's assertion that we shouldn't do Halloween because the poors can't afford it. They haven't done a survey or anything, but evidently they just know in their bones what is good for people? It makes no sense... Having been a kid of limited means in an affluent community, I have very painful memories of what it's like not to be able to do things other kids can do, but Halloween was never the problem. Halloween is EASY - you can pretty much always borrow something or cobble together a costume out of what you have. Anyone who thinks this is a meaningful problem has never been poor. Here are some things that suck for non-affluent families in school communities that contain many wealthier people: -School benefits that there is no way for a non-affluent family to participate in, but which the school pressures kids to participate in through class fundraising competitions. -school supply lists full of weirdly expensive items like oversized sticky notes (seriously our shopping list this year had more than $30 worth of sticky notes this year. wtaf). -Spirit week -school sponsored trips with hefty price tags. I could go on. But the idea that a bunch of privileged white ladies should cancel it on behalf of people they haven't consulted is some serious white savior / white man's burden b.s.

You know Muslims and some conservative Christians don’t celebrate Halloween, right? It’s not because the school thinks some kids are too poor.

It’s all the same though. The Muslims and the Christians who disapprove of Halloween are more than welcome to opt their kids out of any celebration at school. Nobody is forcing them to participate.

It’s the PP who ‘feels sad’ for the kids who is being patronizing.

At any rate, why are we cancelling a non-offensive secular tradition to appease religious fanatics? Can someone please explain?

This.

I wonder how many kids opt out of Family Life in 5th grade and HS health for religious or other reasons. Should we cancel the curriculum? You know, those kids are pulled from class and the school has to otherwise supervise them—and it’s not just for one day.

Family life education has more benefits to students than a Halloween party at school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was on the extreme side of extreme, she would also pull me out of a fall festival because in her pov it’s just Halloween with a different name.

What religion? What ethnicity? Where did you grow up?

I’m surprised this is such a big issue in mcps beyond newcomers. I have family in TX who are surrounded by Latinos who celebrate Halloween, but they aren’t newcomers—they are 2nd or 3rd generation.

I posted in the first few pages. I’m Latina and my parents were extreme Evangelists as in not cutting your hair and no pants variety. The majority of Latinos celebrated Halloween just not The extreme branches of Christianity. my family immigrated here when I was two, I grew up in Silver Spring and went to MCPS. I said in the first pages and I’ll say it again, I don’t think the county should bow down and conform to religious extremism. Frankly, I see that as dangerous.

Although they have changed over the years, my parents opposed any LGBT books, sex Ed (I was also pulled out for this), any books about magic (no Harry Potter for me), school dances. The list goes on and on!

I came to MoCo with my parents from El Salvador in the '80s. My family is very very religious (Catholic) and my parents love Halloween. It was something I was so excited to experience when I started school in the US. I have seen the waves of Central American immigrants change as more evangelicals from the US go down there on "mission" trips. The no pants, long hair evangelicos do not celebrate Halloween, but they are also (in general) not requesting it be removed from school. Yet they are the ones that will be/are being blamed for it. I have many people in my circle who are part of this evangelical community who keep their kids home from school on Halloween, do not allow celebrating, etc. But they do not object to others celebrating it (we're all going to hell, but I guess that's not their problem lol). The culture of most of central America means that parents would never, ever make a "demand" to the school, as teachers are highly respected and recognized as experts. Parents are not welcome to give their input.

The way I see it, well-meaning people are trying to be inclusive and don't want kids to feel left out. But the parents of those kids don't care if they feel left out. Their faith is more important, and it means getting left out of stuff. They want their kids to learn that.

Yeah. Honestly I think teachers and administration just feels guilty if you have a gym full of kids (mostly ethnic minorities,) not participating while the umc (mostly white) kids are having fun in a parade or party. The optics look gross.

Maybe those parents and their kids shouldn't be so intolerant and close-minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble understanding the strong feelings in this thread. Halloween is fun, but isn't it still fun if you don't celebrate it at school? I have read the majority of the posts, and I just don't get why this is something people are angry about.

I can try to explain. I'm angry that schools are cancelling a fun, well-liked, secular tradition to accommodate a small group of religious fanatics. That's actually pretty scary to me.

I'm glad that you're happy with the changes, but it's actually pretty understandable that some parents would be saddened to see that a school tradition is now being cancelled.

Does that make sense to you?

My kid's school stopped with Halloween years ago. They went with black and orange day instead. Activities focus on fall. This was done to include kids with religious beliefs or backgrounds that don't recognize Halloween. Kids still have fun.

Nobody's religious beliefs or backgrounds recognize Halloween. It's costume day with candy and cartoonish spooky decorations.

Beg to differ.

Orthodox Jews do not celebrate secular holidays. Neither do fundamentalist Christians or Muslims. Pentacostal, Jehovah's witnesses and 7th day adventusits also are against secular holidays like Halloween

They're against costume and candy day? So the answer to their intolerance is more intolerance?

You said "no religion is against a holiday" and I have you examples of religious groups that were against it and would opt their child out. That doesn't mean they necessarily want to cancel it for others, that is the school's decision

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we might want to think about what it means when we “feel sad” for kids who aren’t able to participate in Halloween for religious beliefs of their parents/family.

I mean, that’s rather paternalistic and judgmental even if unintentional.

I find that to be the case for so many of my ‘progressive’ liberal neighbors in MoCo. Incredibly paternalistic and a bit condescending.

THIS. I am pretty liberal and progressive myself, but I am really, really icked out by the condescension and patronization inherent in our school's assertion that we shouldn't do Halloween because the poors can't afford it. They haven't done a survey or anything, but evidently they just know in their bones what is good for people? It makes no sense... Having been a kid of limited means in an affluent community, I have very painful memories of what it's like not to be able to do things other kids can do, but Halloween was never the problem. Halloween is EASY - you can pretty much always borrow something or cobble together a costume out of what you have. Anyone who thinks this is a meaningful problem has never been poor. Here are some things that suck for non-affluent families in school communities that contain many wealthier people: -School benefits that there is no way for a non-affluent family to participate in, but which the school pressures kids to participate in through class fundraising competitions. -school supply lists full of weirdly expensive items like oversized sticky notes (seriously our shopping list this year had more than $30 worth of sticky notes this year. wtaf). -Spirit week -school sponsored trips with hefty price tags. I could go on. But the idea that a bunch of privileged white ladies should cancel it on behalf of people they haven't consulted is some serious white savior / white man's burden b.s.

You know Muslims and some conservative Christians don’t celebrate Halloween, right? It’s not because the school thinks some kids are too poor.

It’s all the same though. The Muslims and the Christians who disapprove of Halloween are more than welcome to opt their kids out of any celebration at school. Nobody is forcing them to participate.

It’s the PP who ‘feels sad’ for the kids who is being patronizing.

At any rate, why are we cancelling a non-offensive secular tradition to appease religious fanatics? Can someone please explain?

This.

I wonder how many kids opt out of Family Life in 5th grade and HS health for religious or other reasons. Should we cancel the curriculum? You know, those kids are pulled from class and the school has to otherwise supervise them—and it’s not just for one day.

Family life education has more benefits to students than a Halloween party at school

So you draw that line at what has more benefits? I'm not sure the religious fanatics will agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was on the extreme side of extreme, she would also pull me out of a fall festival because in her pov it’s just Halloween with a different name.

What religion? What ethnicity? Where did you grow up?

I’m surprised this is such a big issue in mcps beyond newcomers. I have family in TX who are surrounded by Latinos who celebrate Halloween, but they aren’t newcomers—they are 2nd or 3rd generation.

I posted in the first few pages. I’m Latina and my parents were extreme Evangelists as in not cutting your hair and no pants variety. The majority of Latinos celebrated Halloween just not The extreme branches of Christianity. my family immigrated here when I was two, I grew up in Silver Spring and went to MCPS. I said in the first pages and I’ll say it again, I don’t think the county should bow down and conform to religious extremism. Frankly, I see that as dangerous.

Although they have changed over the years, my parents opposed any LGBT books, sex Ed (I was also pulled out for this), any books about magic (no Harry Potter for me), school dances. The list goes on and on!

I came to MoCo with my parents from El Salvador in the '80s. My family is very very religious (Catholic) and my parents love Halloween. It was something I was so excited to experience when I started school in the US. I have seen the waves of Central American immigrants change as more evangelicals from the US go down there on "mission" trips. The no pants, long hair evangelicos do not celebrate Halloween, but they are also (in general) not requesting it be removed from school. Yet they are the ones that will be/are being blamed for it. I have many people in my circle who are part of this evangelical community who keep their kids home from school on Halloween, do not allow celebrating, etc. But they do not object to others celebrating it (we're all going to hell, but I guess that's not their problem lol). The culture of most of central America means that parents would never, ever make a "demand" to the school, as teachers are highly respected and recognized as experts. Parents are not welcome to give their input.

The way I see it, well-meaning people are trying to be inclusive and don't want kids to feel left out. But the parents of those kids don't care if they feel left out. Their faith is more important, and it means getting left out of stuff. They want their kids to learn that.

Yeah. Honestly I think teachers and administration just feels guilty if you have a gym full of kids (mostly ethnic minorities,) not participating while the umc (mostly white) kids are having fun in a parade or party. The optics look gross.

Maybe those parents and their kids shouldn't be so intolerant and close-minded.

Maybe you should start an evangelical Halloween movement where you go door to door or stand by street corners like the evangelical Christians and convince people of your position. The evabgelicos of central America are the result of years and years of American prostelytizing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble understanding the strong feelings in this thread. Halloween is fun, but isn't it still fun if you don't celebrate it at school? I have read the majority of the posts, and I just don't get why this is something people are angry about.

I can try to explain. I'm angry that schools are cancelling a fun, well-liked, secular tradition to accommodate a small group of religious fanatics. That's actually pretty scary to me.

I'm glad that you're happy with the changes, but it's actually pretty understandable that some parents would be saddened to see that a school tradition is now being cancelled.

Does that make sense to you?

My kid's school stopped with Halloween years ago. They went with black and orange day instead. Activities focus on fall. This was done to include kids with religious beliefs or backgrounds that don't recognize Halloween. Kids still have fun.

Nobody's religious beliefs or backgrounds recognize Halloween. It's costume day with candy and cartoonish spooky decorations.

Beg to differ.

Orthodox Jews do not celebrate secular holidays. Neither do fundamentalist Christians or Muslims. Pentacostal, Jehovah's witnesses and 7th day adventusits also are against secular holidays like Halloween

They're against costume and candy day? So the answer to their intolerance is more intolerance?

You said "no religion is against a holiday" and I have you examples of religious groups that were against it and would opt their child out. That doesn't mean they necessarily want to cancel it for others, that is the school's decision

I said nobody's religious beliefs recognize Halloween, just as the PP above said (the group you're clubbing into your response). No kids are celebrating Halloween for religious reasons. It's a costume day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we might want to think about what it means when we “feel sad” for kids who aren’t able to participate in Halloween for religious beliefs of their parents/family.

I mean, that’s rather paternalistic and judgmental even if unintentional.

I find that to be the case for so many of my ‘progressive’ liberal neighbors in MoCo. Incredibly paternalistic and a bit condescending.

THIS. I am pretty liberal and progressive myself, but I am really, really icked out by the condescension and patronization inherent in our school's assertion that we shouldn't do Halloween because the poors can't afford it. They haven't done a survey or anything, but evidently they just know in their bones what is good for people? It makes no sense... Having been a kid of limited means in an affluent community, I have very painful memories of what it's like not to be able to do things other kids can do, but Halloween was never the problem. Halloween is EASY - you can pretty much always borrow something or cobble together a costume out of what you have. Anyone who thinks this is a meaningful problem has never been poor. Here are some things that suck for non-affluent families in school communities that contain many wealthier people: -School benefits that there is no way for a non-affluent family to participate in, but which the school pressures kids to participate in through class fundraising competitions. -school supply lists full of weirdly expensive items like oversized sticky notes (seriously our shopping list this year had more than $30 worth of sticky notes this year. wtaf). -Spirit week -school sponsored trips with hefty price tags. I could go on. But the idea that a bunch of privileged white ladies should cancel it on behalf of people they haven't consulted is some serious white savior / white man's burden b.s.

You know Muslims and some conservative Christians don’t celebrate Halloween, right? It’s not because the school thinks some kids are too poor.

It’s all the same though. The Muslims and the Christians who disapprove of Halloween are more than welcome to opt their kids out of any celebration at school. Nobody is forcing them to participate.

It’s the PP who ‘feels sad’ for the kids who is being patronizing.

At any rate, why are we cancelling a non-offensive secular tradition to appease religious fanatics? Can someone please explain?

This.

I wonder how many kids opt out of Family Life in 5th grade and HS health for religious or other reasons. Should we cancel the curriculum? You know, those kids are pulled from class and the school has to otherwise supervise them—and it’s not just for one day.

Family life education has more benefits to students than a Halloween party at school

So you draw that line at what has more benefits? I'm not sure the religious fanatics will agree with you.

I get that you are going to have people opting out of both. But family life lessons actually teach children something of value.

Halloween parties parades are fun but they are not educationally valuable. My kid gets to go to a neighborhood Halloween parade and a friend's Halloween party and trick or treat. If she doesn't celebrate it at school I'm not going to lose any sleep over it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble understanding the strong feelings in this thread. Halloween is fun, but isn't it still fun if you don't celebrate it at school? I have read the majority of the posts, and I just don't get why this is something people are angry about.

I can try to explain. I'm angry that schools are cancelling a fun, well-liked, secular tradition to accommodate a small group of religious fanatics. That's actually pretty scary to me.

I'm glad that you're happy with the changes, but it's actually pretty understandable that some parents would be saddened to see that a school tradition is now being cancelled.

Does that make sense to you?

My kid's school stopped with Halloween years ago. They went with black and orange day instead. Activities focus on fall. This was done to include kids with religious beliefs or backgrounds that don't recognize Halloween. Kids still have fun.

Nobody's religious beliefs or backgrounds recognize Halloween. It's costume day with candy and cartoonish spooky decorations.

Beg to differ.

Orthodox Jews do not celebrate secular holidays. Neither do fundamentalist Christians or Muslims. Pentacostal, Jehovah's witnesses and 7th day adventusits also are against secular holidays like Halloween

Then they should have the option to sit it out and forego the candy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we might want to think about what it means when we “feel sad” for kids who aren’t able to participate in Halloween for religious beliefs of their parents/family.

I mean, that’s rather paternalistic and judgmental even if unintentional.

I find that to be the case for so many of my ‘progressive’ liberal neighbors in MoCo. Incredibly paternalistic and a bit condescending.

THIS. I am pretty liberal and progressive myself, but I am really, really icked out by the condescension and patronization inherent in our school's assertion that we shouldn't do Halloween because the poors can't afford it. They haven't done a survey or anything, but evidently they just know in their bones what is good for people? It makes no sense... Having been a kid of limited means in an affluent community, I have very painful memories of what it's like not to be able to do things other kids can do, but Halloween was never the problem. Halloween is EASY - you can pretty much always borrow something or cobble together a costume out of what you have. Anyone who thinks this is a meaningful problem has never been poor. Here are some things that suck for non-affluent families in school communities that contain many wealthier people: -School benefits that there is no way for a non-affluent family to participate in, but which the school pressures kids to participate in through class fundraising competitions. -school supply lists full of weirdly expensive items like oversized sticky notes (seriously our shopping list this year had more than $30 worth of sticky notes this year. wtaf). -Spirit week -school sponsored trips with hefty price tags. I could go on. But the idea that a bunch of privileged white ladies should cancel it on behalf of people they haven't consulted is some serious white savior / white man's burden b.s.

You know Muslims and some conservative Christians don’t celebrate Halloween, right? It’s not because the school thinks some kids are too poor.

It’s all the same though. The Muslims and the Christians who disapprove of Halloween are more than welcome to opt their kids out of any celebration at school. Nobody is forcing them to participate.

It’s the PP who ‘feels sad’ for the kids who is being patronizing.

At any rate, why are we cancelling a non-offensive secular tradition to appease religious fanatics? Can someone please explain?

This.

I wonder how many kids opt out of Family Life in 5th grade and HS health for religious or other reasons. Should we cancel the curriculum? You know, those kids are pulled from class and the school has to otherwise supervise them—and it’s not just for one day.

Family life education has more benefits to students than a Halloween party at school

So you draw that line at what has more benefits? I'm not sure the religious fanatics will agree with you.

I get that you are going to have people opting out of both. But family life lessons actually teach children something of value.

Halloween parties parades are fun but they are not educationally valuable. My kid gets to go to a neighborhood Halloween parade and a friend's Halloween party and trick or treat. If she doesn't celebrate it at school I'm not going to lose any sleep over it

It's valuable in that it helps cultivate a healthy environment that is more than just work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we might want to think about what it means when we “feel sad” for kids who aren’t able to participate in Halloween for religious beliefs of their parents/family.

I mean, that’s rather paternalistic and judgmental even if unintentional.

I find that to be the case for so many of my ‘progressive’ liberal neighbors in MoCo. Incredibly paternalistic and a bit condescending.

THIS. I am pretty liberal and progressive myself, but I am really, really icked out by the condescension and patronization inherent in our school's assertion that we shouldn't do Halloween because the poors can't afford it. They haven't done a survey or anything, but evidently they just know in their bones what is good for people? It makes no sense... Having been a kid of limited means in an affluent community, I have very painful memories of what it's like not to be able to do things other kids can do, but Halloween was never the problem. Halloween is EASY - you can pretty much always borrow something or cobble together a costume out of what you have. Anyone who thinks this is a meaningful problem has never been poor. Here are some things that suck for non-affluent families in school communities that contain many wealthier people: -School benefits that there is no way for a non-affluent family to participate in, but which the school pressures kids to participate in through class fundraising competitions. -school supply lists full of weirdly expensive items like oversized sticky notes (seriously our shopping list this year had more than $30 worth of sticky notes this year. wtaf). -Spirit week -school sponsored trips with hefty price tags. I could go on. But the idea that a bunch of privileged white ladies should cancel it on behalf of people they haven't consulted is some serious white savior / white man's burden b.s.

You know Muslims and some conservative Christians don’t celebrate Halloween, right? It’s not because the school thinks some kids are too poor.

It’s all the same though. The Muslims and the Christians who disapprove of Halloween are more than welcome to opt their kids out of any celebration at school. Nobody is forcing them to participate.

It’s the PP who ‘feels sad’ for the kids who is being patronizing.

At any rate, why are we cancelling a non-offensive secular tradition to appease religious fanatics? Can someone please explain?

This.

I wonder how many kids opt out of Family Life in 5th grade and HS health for religious or other reasons. Should we cancel the curriculum? You know, those kids are pulled from class and the school has to otherwise supervise them—and it’s not just for one day.

Family life education has more benefits to students than a Halloween party at school

So you draw that line at what has more benefits? I'm not sure the religious fanatics will agree with you.

I get that you are going to have people opting out of both. But family life lessons actually teach children something of value.

Halloween parties parades are fun but they are not educationally valuable. My kid gets to go to a neighborhood Halloween parade and a friend's Halloween party and trick or treat. If she doesn't celebrate it at school I'm not going to lose any sleep over it

Ha! No way. I have 3 kids in MCPS and the Family Life units are a joke. I’d rather the school just skip it and I’ll teach my own kid.

I’ll argue that Halloween parades and Valentine’s Day parties are more important. They help build a sense of community and offer some fun things for kids to look forward to in ES. Especially with the focus on mental health concerns in kids after the pandemic, these types of events are crucial.