Nasty School Letter -- Other Way

[C.Ann]

The end result of everyone trying to practice "political correctness.." Maybe we should all just turn into mechanical zombies - no need to think; no need to use common sense; no need to express joy or sorrow; - just go from day-to-day living our lives like robots..............

 

[deltachi8]

Im Catholic and like Halloween. My son will be at his party at school today (at the end of the day - well done so you can opt out without missing anything important) in costume. Afterwards, he will go trick or treating. He also went to a Scouts party in costume and another costume party.

If the school decided no more halloween parties or religious oriented holiday celebrations, i would be fine with it as he has plenty of opportunities out of school to celebrate these things.

I think the schools should follow the direction of the community they are in. One standard across the state or country makes no sense. It gives people choice in deciding where to live, work and educate their children.

So called "half days" get me more irritated than any holiday/non-holiday stuff ever will.

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

. (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

I totally understand the point of view of those who don't celebrate the holiday and I respect it. I think things have gotten out of hand though. Most children have no clue how Halloween really originated or even what it's really about. I think we are doing our children a disservice by not teaching them this to begin with. We don't practice any religion in our home nor are we atheists, but that has not prevented me from teaching my children one thing or another even if religion is involved. I believe in providing the whole picture for them. I think it's only fair. Now, our school system is having a parade and parties for the children. We got a letter stating that the school had made arrangements for the "other" kids so that they wouldn't have to participate. My kids are dressing up so no big deal to me. Given the lack of education on the subject though (and I don't mean everyone as each situation is individual) I don't see why it would hurt to allow a child to dress up and partake in festivities when most kids think that's what it's all about anyway. JMHO

 

[Diz-Mommy]

I'm thankful I run my own childcare, so even when my kids start going to school, they will have a fun place to celebrate holidays of all kinds even if their school cancels everything to be politically correct.

 

[estherhead]

Most children have no clue how Halloween really originated or even what it's really about. I think we are doing our children a disservice by not teaching them this to begin with. We don't practice any religion in our home nor are we atheists, but that has not prevented me from teaching my children one thing or another even if religion is involved. I believe in providing the whole picture for them.

I loved this statement. Children are SO SMART! They deserve to know all about stuff. My 5 year old asked me where Halloween came from this weekend and we spent a long time researching it and discussing it and trying to put it in 5 yr old terms. It was educational and fun. I learnd stuff I didn't know and then when my daughter was talking to my mom today she learned stuff she didn't know.

 

[Downrivermama]

My dd 7 woke me up at 5:30 AM asking if she could put on her costume! Usually I have to blast her out of bed at 6:15 AM! When she started school a couple of years ago, I was afraid that "Political correctness" would ruin the holidays at school. When she was in daycare Halloween was pajama day. I don't think they wanted to deal with costumes.

Our school has a great principal and they do the traditional holidays like I enjoyed in school. We do have a lot of neighbors who go over the top with decerating thier houses and dressing up themselves.

Ironically, many who condem holidays such Halloween, fail to realize that Christmas has many pagan elements, that early Christians adopted to recruit converts! I guess I watch the History Channel too much!

Happy Halloween!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

My kids go to a Catholic school and they have Halloween parties with costumes from PreK to Kidergarten. We celebrate Halloween as a fun day to dress up, do pumpkin picking and go trick or treating. Nothing pagan about celebrating it as a fun day. My kids are off tomorrow for All Saints Day and will be expected to go to Mass. Kids need to have fun.

 

[LaraK]

While I understand the positive aspects of respecting a diverse population, it is the exposure to all of that diversity that makes this the greatest nation on earth. I think my biggest problem with the "PC police" is that they are stifling the freedom of thought and speach that make us who we are. Kids are KIDS. They like to dress up and get candy...no rocket science there. My kids would dress up in costume 365 days a year if I let them. It allows them to dream and discover.

 

[goofy4tink]

So, there I was...at church one day...a group of moms standing around, talking about the upcoming Halloween goings on. We discussed decorations we were planning on, what kinds of 'creepy' foods we would serve..you get the idea. So, this older woman came up to me afterwards and says to me..."I'm so glad I could get you alone dear. I'm just a bit concerned about all that talk about witches and ghosts and such. I certainly hope you aren't planning on putting out any types of witch or ghost decorations, because they will call out the true spirits!!!" Ahhhh, o-kay. I'm sure she had my 'best interests' at heart, but come on...bringing out the spirits??? Please.

If we actually sat down with our children and talked to them about all the different cultural holidays and how they are celebrated I think there would be a lot less upheaval and unrest out there. The schools no longer celebrate anything. I know that my dd, who teaches a preschool class, hates this non-celebratory thing. When she was told that her class wasn't going to be allowed to send each other Valentines Day cards she freaked. She talked to the parents, individually, to make sure no one had an issue with card sending. Then, when it was the actual day, she had the kids learn all about the postal system and how to mail cards. She said..."Hey, is it my fault that the kids used Valentine cards to put in the mailbox??" The kids were happy, the parents were thrilled, and the director just chuckled!!

Diversity is fine, but I think we are going to the PC extreme. We are in danger of losing what makes us so wonderful...all those differences.

 

[bicker]

There is a difference between exposure and immersion that borders on official sanction. Folks who believe in mixing religion and schooling, and feel strongly enough about it, have the option to home-school or send their children to private school. No majority should have the right to foster even a mildly-oppressive educational environment just for the sake of "fun". :

Schools can celebrate Thanksgiving and New Years. If more diversion is deemed necessary, more secular holidays can be introduced.

 

[msbegin]

So, there I was...at church one day...a group of moms standing around, talking about the upcoming Halloween goings on. We discussed decorations we were planning on, what kinds of 'creepy' foods we would serve..you get the idea. So, this older woman came up to me afterwards and says to me..."I'm so glad I could get you alone dear. I'm just a bit concerned about all that talk about witches and ghosts and such. I certainly hope you aren't planning on putting out any types of witch or ghost decorations, because they will call out the true spirits!!!" Ahhhh, o-kay. I'm sure she had my 'best interests' at heart, but come on...bringing out the spirits??? Please.

If we actually sat down with our children and talked to them about all the different cultural holidays and how they are celebrated I think there would be a lot less upheaval and unrest out there. The schools no longer celebrate anything. I know that my dd, who teaches a preschool class, hates this non-celebratory thing. When she was told that her class wasn't going to be allowed to send each other Valentines Day cards she freaked. She talked to the parents, individually, to make sure no one had an issue with card sending. Then, when it was the actual day, she had the kids learn all about the postal system and how to mail cards. She said..."Hey, is it my fault that the kids used Valentine cards to put in the mailbox??" The kids were happy, the parents were thrilled, and the director just chuckled!!

Diversity is fine, but I think we are going to the PC extreme. We are in danger of losing what makes us so wonderful...all those differences.

LOVE the valentines day thing... on a similar note, I just returnes from ds class & the teacher had them make macaroni skelatons... to learn about the skelatal system of course!

 

[tink2]

I'm a second grade teacher and a mother. This year, our school allowed no Halloween parties nor costumes. We did do a pumpkin unit in my room and a few small crafts. However, it was not the usual fun to be had at school. As a matter of fact, my school has gone to 'healthy' parties- no cupcakes (muffins instead) or anything wiht chocolate or sugar. Boy, what fun!!! Even though I realize the reasons, but every once in a while a little sugar doesn't hurt them. Not looking for a debate. I just wish sometimes that people would remember that these are children we are dealing with and that school is supposed to be fun sometimes. I agree with some posters on the first page, (I didn't read the whole thread) I think it is kinda sad....

 

[bicker]

True, but it isn't good enough for something to be fun for some. If something is being done for fun, it needs to be something which is fun for all, or taxpayers shouldn't have to have their taxes expended to pay to foster it.

 

[Downrivermama]

Tink2 quoted: As a matter of fact, my school has gone to 'healthy' parties- no cupcakes (muffins instead) or anything wiht chocolate or sugar. Boy, what fun!!!

It is sad. I don't think a cupcake here or there is going to hurt anyone. With my dd if she wakes up all geeked up she will be when she goes to bed, even if she is sugarless the whole day. That's just the way she is sometimes. No cupcakes that's sad.

 

[bicker]

I think when childhood obesity was down around 5% it wasn't as much of an issue, but now with it getting closer to 20%, and with a significant number of children now suffering from adult-onset diabetes, there are a significant number of children for which one cupcake really is too much, and it would be doubly-bad to be excluded in that way from what the rest of the class is doing, don't you think?

 

[minkydog]

We're a Christian family who has studied the origins of Halloween and concluded that the whole celebration just doesn't match up with our beliefs. We don't proselytize or make waves, but we do request that our children not participate in jack-o-lantern/witch/ghost projects in the fall. It's never been a big deal and we have received some lovely orange & gold pumpkin crafts to display in our home. We have no problem with candy or dressing up(my kids have the largest collection of costumes I have every seen.)

Our church puts on a Fall Festival on Oct. 31 to give local families a safe, fun alternative to trick-or-trick. The kids can dress up or not. They have games, pizza, ponies, a cake walk, candy, balloons and just about every fun thing you can imagine. Every child receives a bag for their candy when they come it and they can go around to the games and crafts as much as they like(they get candy at each spot.) My kids love this festival because they get a ton of loot and get to hang out with their friends.. I love this festival because it's a big non-halloween party with all my friends. Tonight DD12 is going to be painting faces and I will be serving Pizza & Coke. DS10 will be holding down the hay ride and the cake walk--he walks 'round and 'round until he wins

 

[tink2]

I do agree with the obesity comment, that is sad too. However, children are not obese b/c of school. Our national PE program is very tough on physical fitness. And one or two cupcakes throughout the school year won't make them obese or prevent it. It is when they go home, sit on the couch, and eat junk all the time without any exercise that makes them obese. Now, I realize a few children have heredity to deal with, but they are the exception. I just think we are taking every holiday out of the schools to be politically correct. We did do a pumpkin unit, but there was no party- halloween or fall celebration- to be had at my school. There will be no Christmas party- or winter celebration- of any sort. There will be no Valentines party or exchaging candy that day either. Nada, zilch. I hope we can celebrate the end of the year with fat free blueberry muffins. No cupcakes or anything to celebrate birthdays. I just wish people would sit back and remember these are kids. 5, 6, 7, and 8 year olds who don't understand all these issues and just want to have fun with their friends at school. Sometimes I fear we are taking the childhood away from our children. I know we did all these things as children and I think I turned out OK- or at least my damage wasn't from that stuff! LOL

 

[bicker]

I can speak from personal experience that a single cupcake can shake a rational adult off of a disciplined obesity reduction effort. I can only imagine the pressures that such an event would apply to a young, immature child.

 

[Tissa]

I can speak from personal experience that a single cupcake can shake a rational adult off of a disciplined obesity reduction effort. I can only imagine the pressures that such an event would apply to a young, immature child.

So give the kid a bran muffin and give mine a cupcake. Ok I'm not really serious on that one but why should we say no cupcakes for the entire school because a few have a weight problem? Everyone talks about freedoms and rights but don't my kids have the right to eat cupcakes and celebrate Halloween? This could turn into a debate that I don't have time for because I have to decorate my yard for the trick or treaters tonight. So trick or treat smell my feet give me something good to eat

 

[C.Ann]

True, but it isn't good enough for something to be fun for some. If something is being done for fun, it needs to be something which is fun for all, or taxpayers shouldn't have to have their taxes expended to pay to foster it.

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How do you figure taxpayers are having their taxes expended to pay to foster it?