Halloween and School- Banned?

[dreamer17555]

So I am a leader of a girl scout troop, my assistant leader is a teacher in a school that is the same district as my daughter. I mentioned that I was searching the house for the Halloween bows I made for Cat and she told me that our school district has banned Halloween. Apparently a note was sent to the teachers and staff telling them not to wear either orange or black, and that children wearing Halloween colors (not even costumes but colors) would be sent to the office and the parents called to bring a change of clothes.

Now my DD’s school has yet to send home any note but has made this Red Ribbon week. (Today I sent her in head to toe red with the red ribbons in her hair to seal the deal- Friday is supposed to be “Western Wear” which my DD doesn’t have any of.) My DD has already picked out an outfit to wear to school on Friday- very cute Halloween shirt, skirt and if I find them- hair bows. Am I an awful parent to let her wear it? I haven’t had the note yet- it still might be coming… but even if it does I almost feel like letting her anyway. If they call me I will come pick her up and take her home (I could actually use the extra time getting her ready for Trick or Treat. Giselle’s hair is not quick!) .

Is this terrible? Am I teaching my good kid to break the rules or to think for herself? I am so conflicted… Thoughts?

-Becca-

 

[akhenaten]

I don't understand banning halloween... however if the school choses to not have kids wear costumes/have a parade/have a party that is one thing...

but to say you can't send you child in halloween colors...very wrong!!

You did not get the notice so maybe you should not worry about it...would you bring a change if called?? Do you want to call school and protest the non wearing of halloween colors before Friday??

 

[mamamary]

It is red ribbon week at our school also. We happen to not have school on Fri (teacher meetings). I can't imagine that they can tell you what color clothes to wear or not to wear. Our school doesn't do anything in particular for Halloween but I've always let my daughter wear a halloween shirt (the $5 shirts from Target .

 

[czycropper]

I think that the school system should have given more notice to the parents than 2 days! Also, this is politically correct going overboard to cancel Halloween! I would call the School Board and say that you had heard a rumor and you wanted to find out if it was true and why weren't parents being told or given the chance to discuss with the School Board. I'm on the elementary PTA and whenever we hear any rumor (ie. cutting teachers, etc) we immediately go to a School Board meeting to object.

I'm so glad that our school system still recognizes Halloween for what it is-a time for kids to dress up and actually the teachers & principals have a competition with the other elementary schools in the district to see which school has the best dressed staff! There are 6 elementary schools in our town.

Since I'm one of those lovers of holidays, I would send my DDs dressed as you are dressing yours and see what happens BUT explain to your DD what could happen. I know if I explained it to my two and ever gave them the option they would go with Halloween t-shirt and see what happened and they are 8 & 10!

 

[mousetravel]

I understand no costumes, but colors? That sounds ridiculous.
Not all articles of orange or black necessarily mean Halloween.
If you wear orange around here, it's most likely for Clemson!

Also, as I stated on a thread I started, on the radio this morning, they were saying some schools will be saying "Character Day", not Halloween!!

 

[dreamer17555]

I don't understand banning halloween... however if the school choses to not have kids wear costumes/have a parade/have a party that is one thing...

but to say you can't send you child in halloween colors...very wrong!!

You did not get the notice so maybe you should not worry about it...would you bring a change if called?? Do you want to call school and protest the non wearing of halloween colors before Friday??

If called... I would probably take her home for the day instead of bringing a change of clothes. I would watch The Great Pumpkin with her while working on her hair for trick or treating. She does fantastic in school so I wouldn't worry about her missing a day.

I would need to protest to the District- I think our school is trying not to have to follow the new rule (they did the same thing when the District banned Ice Cream sales- they sorta didn't do anything unless they were forced). I don't want to call attention in case our school will just let the kids "slide".

-Becca-

 

[dreamer17555]

I understand no costumes, but colors? That sounds ridiculous.
Not all articles of orange or black necessarily mean Halloween.
If you wear orange around here, it's most likely for Clemson!

Also, as I stated on a thread I started, on the radio this morning, they were saying some schools will be saying "Character Day", not Halloween!!

We have Character Day in mid November. The kids basically wear their Halloween costumes and have a blast - suppose to be a character from a book that you bring (my dd went to Barnes and Noble and bought the Enchanted Chapter Book to take. ) I am in a bible belt area and it drives me nuts about all the little rules about stuff.

-Becca-

 

[akhenaten]

We have Character Day in mid November. The kids basically wear their Halloween costumes and have a blast - suppose to be a character from a book that you bring (my dd went to Barnes and Noble and bought the Enchanted Chapter Book to take. ) I am in a bible belt area and it drives me nuts about all the little rules about stuff.

-Becca-

I like you plan for friday!

So if you are in an area like that do the kids get to Trick or Treat door to door?

 

[dreamer17555]

I like you plan for friday!

So if you are in an area like that do the kids get to Trick or Treat door to door?

Depends- In my neighboorhood we have plenty of houses that do the trick or treat thing- we also have many churches doing Trunk or Treat instead... and at least three times a night Cat gets some Religious literature instead of candy. You should see her face when they start talking to her about God. She looks at them like they are beyond rude. (We have taught her that you do not talk about your religious beliefs or try to convert others- that they are Your Beliefs)She stands still and then says Thank you and once out of earshot asks why their parents didn't teach them it was rude to try to make people think the same way you do.

-Becca-

 

[akhenaten]

Depends- In my neighboorhood we have plenty of houses that do the trick or treat thing- we also have many churches doing Trunk or Treat instead... and at least three times a night Cat gets some Religious literature instead of candy. You should see her face when they start talking to her about God. She looks at them like they are beyond rude. (We have taught her that you do not talk about your religious beliefs or try to convert others- that they are Your Beliefs)She stands still and then says Thank you and once out of earshot asks why their parents didn't teach them it was rude to try to make people think the same way you do.

-Becca-

I am glad that she has lots of places to go...

religious literature?? I hope they at least include a candy with it???
We live in NJ and I have to say we have not once gotten religius literature...

what about the talk shows telling folks to give out toothbrushes??

Happy Halloween!!

 

[teacups]

I would love to see that stand up in front of any judge or similar.
No Costumes. OK.
Clothes with Halloween prints? I DONT THINK SO!

I think rather than ask what are YOU teaching your kid... you should ask yourself what THEY are teaching her.

 

[Kim&Chris]

What the heck happened to this country???

When we went to school, we wore costumes and guess what...everyone lived to tell the tale!!

I become SO sad when I read these things. I just can't wrap my arms around this stuff. No orange or black? I feel bad for these kids nowadays....thanks to the whiners in this country, they will not know some of the basic fun things of childhood.

UGH.

 

[jrmasm]

I think the rule is stupid but I also think it's stupid to set the kid up to get in trouble.

Have you confirmed this with the principal?

 

[Anewman]

So I am a leader of a girl scout troop, my assistant leader is a teacher in a school that is the same district as my daughter. I mentioned that I was searching the house for the Halloween bows I made for Cat and she told me that our school district has banned Halloween. Apparently a note was sent to the teachers and staff telling them not to wear either orange or black, and that children wearing Halloween colors (not even costumes but colors) would be sent to the office and the parents called to bring a change of clothes.

Now my DD’s school has yet to send home any note but has made this Red Ribbon week. (Today I sent her in head to toe red with the red ribbons in her hair to seal the deal- Friday is supposed to be “Western Wear” which my DD doesn’t have any of.) My DD has already picked out an outfit to wear to school on Friday- very cute Halloween shirt, skirt and if I find them- hair bows. Am I an awful parent to let her wear it? I haven’t had the note yet- it still might be coming… but even if it does I almost feel like letting her anyway. If they call me I will come pick her up and take her home (I could actually use the extra time getting her ready for Trick or Treat. Giselle’s hair is not quick!) .

Is this terrible? Am I teaching my good kid to break the rules or to think for herself? I am so conflicted… Thoughts?

-Becca-

If you have not received the note, do not take what the teacher claims as law.

 

[dreamer17555]

If you have not received the note, do not take what the teacher claims as law.

She showed me the note yesterday. It went to every school in the district but to the staff- not the students. The schools were supposed to send a letter home last week with the students. Her school did. Mine did not. Our school tends to rebel until they are forced to comply with things.

-Becca-

 

[Laurabearz]

I am sadden the kids can no longer pack up goodie bags to hand to their class mates.

I am also sad I bought all the things for my three kids to make the goodie bags before they told us no goodie bags.

Soooooooooo this year we are handing out spider rings, halloween pencils, play doh, etc to the kids that come to the door and not candy

 

[Stacerita]

There really is no need to have kids dressed in costume at school. For many reasons so I have no problem with them saying no costumes. But for them to dictate that kids can't wear certain colors??? Thats too far. When my DD was in elementry school, all she wore was black. That was her fave color to wear. And for almost the entire month of OCT, she wore Halloween tees and orange and black.

I would send her to school in what she planned to wear. And like you stated, if you get called, just pick her up instead.

Schools go to far sometimes.

 

[luvmy3]

I'd be in trouble because my youngest ds's favorite color is orange. OUr school does not do the costume thing for Halloween but it is celebrated. We have "fall" parties and pretty much everything at them are Halloween themed. We do not have a ban on any Halloween colors or clothing items other than costumes.

If you haven't gotten any note, I would call the school and confirm its true. If those are the school rules, I would just stick to them, no matter how much you disagree. I don't think its fair either way for your dd, yes she should be allowed to wear that stuff, but its not right to send her in them so she'll just end up at the principal's office.

 

[dislal]

I am so glad that our school still celebrates Halloween we have a party and parade on Friday and the kids are so excited. The only thing they send notes home about are to remember the no weapons policy and no parents are to wear masks. Which I am ok with both of those rules.

 

[4greatboys]

We can still have parties at our school too. It's not a "halloween" party it's a "great pumpkin" party. Whatever. Our kids do get to wear costumes as well and if you dress like someone in a book then you get to be in a parade they have in the hall. Which is cool.