Christian fandamentalists consider Halloween the celebration of a "religion" and hence, the fundy parents don't want their kids to have to practice it if they can't pray in school as well.

Sigh. So much for fun.

I don't know what it was brought up again either but just piping in to say at our FFX school, kids are allowed to wear costumes this year

When I was growing up we did not dress up in school for Halloween. I think we probably had a Halloween party and made masks or something at school--but we did not wear costumes from home to school. We certainly did crafts, etc. for Halloween, however.

Later, when I taught school in another area, dressing up for Halloween was a given. As a teacher it was my favorite holiday to celebrate--easy, no feelings hurt, and, it never occurred to me that it had religious connotations (this was quite some time ago) We decorated, made tissue paper ghosts with lollipops, etc. I always had extra costume stuff on hand in case a child did not come dressed up. Yes, it was disruptive--but, in those days, teachers were allowed to let the kids have fun at school. Not so sure that is any longer the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think because Halloween is considered Christian and we no longer have Christian-centric public schools.

Which is totally hypocritical since we still "happen" to close for other Christian holidays.

I'm not Christian but I think it's silly. My kids enjoy all the commercial aspects of Christian holidays, fine with me if school has parties around them too.

LOL No. Most definitely not a christian holiday. In fact, some branches believe it's the devil's birthday. Also, schools close around Christmas as well not just because of Christmas, other religious holidays happen around that time as well, along with New Years. I know it's 5 years late, but this response is better than nothing.

The post to which you are responding is 5 years old. Why did you bring up a thread form 5 years ago?

Anonymous wrote:disruption. scary costumes. people who don't "celebrate" Halloween. it has nothing to do with educating children.

Must I go on?

We do Halloween trick or treating, but I don't want my kids going to school in costume.

+1

I don't think it's accurate to flatly state that Halloween is not a Christian holiday. Hallow'een is Hallows Eve. All Hallows Day is November 1. As usual the Catholic Church took their holiday and grafted it onto an existing Pagan one (Samhain). Just like Easter which takes its name from the Pagan goddess Ostara. Eggs and bunnies have nothing to do with Jesus.

"The Celtic elements included lighting bonfires, carving turnips (and, in America, pumpkins), and going from house to house, collecting treats, as carolers do at Christmas. But the "occult" aspects of Halloween—ghosts and demons—actually have their roots in Catholic belief. Christians believed that, at certain times of the year (Christmas is another), the veil separating earth from Purgatory, Heaven, and even Hell becomes more thin, and the souls in Purgatory (ghosts) and demons can be more readily seen. Thus the tradition of Halloween costumes owes as much, if not more, to Christian belief as to Celtic tradition."

http://catholicism.about.com/od/thecatholicfamily/p/Halloween.htm

Anonymous wrote:disruption. scary costumes. people who don't "celebrate" Halloween. it has nothing to do with educating children.

Must I go on?

We do Halloween trick or treating, but I don't want my kids going to school in costume.

This is why it isn't done at my kids' Arlington ES. We have a big neighborhood celebration the weekend before Halloween plus the TOT night itself. I don't see any need for it to take over school too.

Because it may offend 0.1%.

Because school is about standardized tests!

Public school is now where fun goes to die. I went public but I cannot stand what it has become. Just a grind until test time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think because Halloween is considered Christian and we no longer have Christian-centric public schools.

Which is totally hypocritical since we still "happen" to close for other Christian holidays.

I'm not Christian but I think it's silly. My kids enjoy all the commercial aspects of Christian holidays, fine with me if school has parties around them too.

LOL No. Most definitely not a christian holiday. In fact, some branches believe it's the devil's birthday. Also, schools close around Christmas as well not just because of Christmas, other religious holidays happen around that time as well, along with New Years. I know it's 5 years late, but this response is better than nothing.

Hah. Reminds me of a former neighbor, who was concerned we might be devil worshippers because we had Halloween decorations. I told her we're candy worshippers.

I'm old, and none of the many schools I went to allowed Halloween costumes in the 60s and 70s. It wasn't appropriate for school then or now. It's not some sudden turnaround.

Anonymous wrote:I think because Halloween is considered Christian and we no longer have Christian-centric public schools.

Which is totally hypocritical since we still "happen" to close for other Christian holidays.

I'm not Christian but I think it's silly. My kids enjoy all the commercial aspects of Christian holidays, fine with me if school has parties around them too.

LOL No. Most definitely not a christian holiday. In fact, some branches believe it's the devil's birthday. Also, schools close around Christmas as well not just because of Christmas, other religious holidays happen around that time as well, along with New Years. I know it's 5 years late, but this response is better than nothing.

For the poster who said it's because people reject the precious American freedoms...you can celebrate it all you want after school.

Whatever is wrong with a boy in a dress?

"Everything at the public schools is becoming "sanitized" for a number of reasons and the finger pointing shouldn't just be toward the right. The constant political posters need to limit their narrow one-sided political view of the world to the political forum. "

What are the reasons germane to Halloween?

Halloween is the farthest thing from "Christian" that you can get. It's a PAGAN holiday -- which is why so many Christians frown upon/reject it.