Nasty School Letter -- Other Way

[seashoreCM]

. (snip)
Mr. John Smith, Principal
(snip)
Dear Mr. Smith.

Please excuse my sons David and George from school on October 31. It so happens that they will be uncomfortable fitting in with the Halloween celebration to be held at school that day.

David and George will keep up with work at home and will be handing in assignments and be prepared to make up any quizzes and exams on succeeding days at times mutually convenient with teachers. I understand that the absence will not be considered as unexcused, that there will be no adverse effect on my sons' grades and that no legal action will be taken given that my sons have already used their quota of unexcused absences on a Disney World trip.
(snip)

Reply:

Mr. Stephen Johnson

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Please be advised that the school has cancelled the Halloween celebration in response to various protests and complaints from parents. Students may wear costumes to school but should feel no obligation to.

We appreciate your efforts to ensure your children attend school since state funding levels depend on attendance.
(snip)

(Based on a news report in the Boston area where it was said that some parents were planning to keep their children home.)

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Schmeck]

I'm planning on keeping my children out of school while my school system celebrates any holiday -

It cracks me up how some people are threatened by Halloween - almost all Christian holidays are based on Pagan ones

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My children are out of school tomorrow for a teacher workday.

Lori

 

[Claroquesi]

As a teacher....I think it`s kind of sad. That stuff is the stuff kids remember about school being fun. It is the foundation, the hook by which you get kids engaged for the long haul....the stuff that allows them to be comfortable in the classroom and excited about being there and learning. It builds community. Life teaches lessons(yes even Disney trips, paitence, how to confront fears, weights, heights,schedules, time telling etc.). Unfortunately not everything can be taught by doing in a super engaging enviornment.
Sometimes we have to learn in school. Which is not as exciting as the Tower of Terror, but is useful and can be fun. It is hard though, to make that fun when people are placing a religious signifigance on kids dressing up, using their imaginations and eating orange cupcakes. Cancelling Halloween doesn`t do anything to make kids better, it just makes them less like what makes kids great.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

All forms of fun will hearby be declared illegal and not Politically Correct.

 

[Pinnie]

I am a kindergarten teacher and I have had to curtail a lot of my activities for ALL holidays. I am getting tired of the tail wagging the dog.

pinnie

 

[MinnieGirl33]

It is hard though, to make that fun when people are placing a religious signifigance on kids dressing up, using their imaginations and eating orange cupcakes. Cancelling Halloween doesn`t do anything to make kids better, it just makes them less like what makes kids great.

Well said.

 

[Stephres]

Everything from my first grader's teacher talked of "Pumpkin Day" and the activities they would have. It took me quite a while to realize that "Pumpkin Day" was really Halloween. I don't know, it just is weird.

 

[NotUrsula]

Fifteen years or so ago, I managed a public library in a semi-rural midwest county that shall remain nameless. We were always totally swamped on Halloween, because the county's public elementary schools were always closed for a teacher in-service training day.

Why have an in-service on Halloween? Because they gave up on expecting the kids to show up at school. This particular county has a large population of evangelical fundamentalists, and a rumour had been circulating for years that satanists were planning to kidnap young Christian children from schools to subject them to Halloween-related ritual abuses. Most of the families in the county were keeping their elementary-school aged children at home because they disapproved of Halloween celebrations, and many also believed the kidnapping rumour to be true. Total hogwash: no child had every disappeared in that county (or neighboring counties) in or around Halloween, nor had any charges of attempted abduction ever been filed. That county is STILL closing all elementary schools on Halloween.

 

[estherhead]

Very interesting letter. Just a brief note that some parents are very consistent in not celebrating any "Christian" holiday that includes "pagan" associations. It doesn't make them not fun, nor is it because they are threatened. I was raised without Halloween and was always picked up before the party (after any tests.) I didn't feel like I was missing out considering I had lots of fun and parties and trips to Disney, etc. Just like Jewish people not celebrating Christmas (since they don't think "Christ" is a savior), it is religous prejudice to force small children to participate in things they don't believe in. I don't find Halloween threatening or creepy or anything, I just don't believe my God would be happy with me following traditions created for worshipping other pagan gods. But I have no problem with other people who don't feel that way.

That being said, I also think it incorrect for minorities religiously to demand that a school cancel celebrations for holidays. If 30 kids would love a Halloween party & 1 wouldn't, I think the decision is obvious. I do think, though, as a teacher that perhaps it could be overwhelming to have to go from holiday to holiday in addition to teaching. Poor teachers.

 

[msbegin]

If you work for any large corporation these days, the buzz is all about "Inclusion & Diversity" They are very sure to recognize, celebrate, acknowledge & educate employees on any and all holidays or historic events.

Why would we want our children to be so sheltered as to not celbrate anything in school?? We should teach them how to celebrate life, and respect everyones holidays. I'm not expecting that they pray or worship in school, but what harm is there in doing a crafty project or having a special snack??

 

[disneyfanfamily]

This is the first year our school said we were not allowed to have our children dress up. However, we were allowed to have a Harvest party. So that is what our school did. It is a little sad, because my preschool child will never be able to dress up for Halloween during school.

I think a Harvest party would be a better alternative then no party at all. And I also think they should have the option to dress up as a book character or an animal or something.

I am a Christain - a strong Christian. But I think Halloween is fun. When else do you get to dress up like that. I believe Halloween is what you make of it. But I will not condemn those who do not want to participate.

 

[Mermaid02]

2 years ago my son wore an orange shirt and black pants to school on Halloween. I also put green hair gel in his hair. The teacher took him aside and told him she "didn't appreciate the way he was dressed" and that it was "Inappropriate". The male gym teacher also had on black sweats and an orange shirt. And the hair gel? He had worn the green and blue to school on several occasions. I hated that teacher.

 

[In a hurry]

It seems a totally respectable letter. What problem does anyone have with a parent making a choice for their child? She didn't demand the end of the celebration, simply stated her children would not participate. The school cancelled.

Besides Halloween, anymore is just another opportunity for the parents to live out their lives through their children. It is about who spent the most on the costume. Parents, once again have ruined another holiday trying to live their kid's lives. None of the kids in my class last year had a kid made costume. The parents obsessed over the treats, and the decorations. So much for kids participating. They were just little costume models.

As for diversity, people only want diversity when it ruins things for other people.

 

[msbegin]

It seems a totally respectable letter. What problem does anyone have with a parent making a choice for their child? She didn't demand the end of the celebration, simply stated her children would not participate. The school cancelled.

Besides Halloween, anymore is just another opportunity for the parents to live out their lives through their children. It is about who spent the most on the costume. Parents, once again have ruined another holiday trying to live their kid's lives. None of the kids in my class last year had a kid made costume. The parents obsessed over the treats, and the decorations. So much for kids participating. They were just little costume models.

As for diversity, people only want diversity when it ruins things for other people.

Well, I never said I disagreed with the parent- It is a parents choice what to do with their child...

Also... I never said I thought the costume part of the holiday was a big deal- just that the kids have a snack or activity- a way to acknowledge the holiday or event-

Lastly- i am not trying to live vicariously through my child- I had a fine childhood, but I am more than happy to leave that in the past, I am merely trying to keep my child a child.

And by the way- I am a very involved parent-not the kind who only shows her face to complain- I'm the president of a very active PTO- On a first name basis w/ the teachers and volunteer weekly in my kids classrooms and sit on an advisory board for the Board of Ed. I also mentor. I have organized for the past four years a party at school which we call "The Spooky Spectacular" (never called it a Halloween party). It is held on a Friday evening and kids are free to wear costumes if the wish (FYI-even our principal) dresses up).

I must go, my son's first grade teacher requested I come in to help to do a special craft (and to accomodate everyone... we have altered the jackolantern craft for the child who is not able to celebrate Halloween - she will be doing a pumpkin craft-The mother said this is fine) The cupcakes that I baked have orange frosting-no Halloween decorations- the kids will be just fine with that

 

[In a hurry]

Huh? Was I adressing you? Must have missed something. You sound like a fine mom. Wish I had more like you last year when I was teaching first grade. I stand by my statement that the parents I have dealt with the last few years are more concerned with getting just the right princess dress for their little dear and just the right picture than their little princess having a good time. Those women were vicious when their kids got some of that orange icing on their costumes. Very sad.

 

[msbegin]

Huh? Was I adressing you? Must have missed something. You sound like a fine mom. Wish I had more like you last year when I was teaching first grade. I stand by my statement that the parents I have dealt with the last few years are more concerned with getting just the right princess dress for their little dear and just the right picture than their little princess having a good time. Those women were vicious when their kids got some of that orange icing on their costumes. Very sad.

Sorry- hot headed mom her Our school secretary went to work for a new school in a very affluent community (we are very middle class). She says the school is fine, but the parents are impossible to deal with (I bet there would be plenty of orange icing moms there...) I understand what you meant now...if it's not fun for the kids... what's the point?
I hope we don't have any of those moms... my frosting is VERY orange!!! (that's what happens when you put a six year old in charge of the food coloring!)

Wish me luck!

 

[smfritz03]

What bothers me most about this, Im sure the same parents who are so against Halloween--probably spoil their children on Christmas with tons of presents and fail to sit down and teach their children the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

 

[crisi]

And yet every day my kids are exposed to a concept of God I don't concur with when they say the Pledge of Allegience. There is a good chance they will be exposed to the concept of "Intellegent Design" and people are lobbying for prayer in public schools.

If people want to keep Gods and religion out of the public school system, it should be across the board. I'm not going to fight the pledge - what a waste of tax dollars! But if I pulled my kids because they were exposed to things I didn't agree with, they wouldn't be enrolled in school.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Yeah, my kids are celebrating "Fall Fun Day" at school today , and the teachers aren't allowed to put up any Halloween themed stuff in their rooms. They can have pumpkins, but not Jack o Lanterns. It's so ludicrous and arbitrary.

For us, Halloween is about the celebration of imagination and creativity, not about (using Dana Carvey voice here) Satan.

The whole point of children celebrating Halloween was to take the stuffing out of the original pagan holiday. If you've got kids dressing up at witches and ghosts, then it invalidates the power of the real thing. I feel bad for the fundamentalists who've gotten the whole thing wrong and are giving validation back to whoever takes Halloween seriously.

THat's what happens when you have no sense of humor, because Halloween's hilarious!