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 Every
year, Halloween seems to get a bad rap from some one of
some group of people. This tends to scare us more then any new horror
film ever could. here, you'll find some of the articles we've found and
why they scare us. Maybe if we all stand up for the right to celebrate
Halloween, we can put a stop to this nonsense! |
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In Schools, Halloween a Ghost of
Its Former Self
By MIKE HENDRICKS
- Columnist
10/18/00
It won't be long until Oct. 31 and every child's favorite
holiday: "fall festival!"
Remember the fall festivals of your youth? How we'd stuff our
faces at "harvest parties," whilst frolicking in the wholesome, life-affirming
costumes we'd worn in the "harvest parade?"
Me, neither. But it's the way of things today. Forget scary.
Forget "boo!"
Halloween is on the outs in public schools. In its stead,
there are tepid fall festivals, fall parties and harvest celebrations.
Quite simply, public schools have caved in to the misplaced
concerns of a minority of parents who mistakenly believe that the modern celebration of
Halloween still bears some connection to its ancient pagan origins and the occult.
It's crazy, I know. What Halloween's really about is having
fun and making money. Kids have the fun. Merchants make the money. What's not to like?
That is, unless you've forgotten how it was to be a kid and now have a habit of taking
things way too seriously.
It's that same attitude that got Santa booted from many
public schools. Which just goes to show you, I guess, that one should never underestimate
the power of a shrill and insistent minority when it comes to scaring the bejeebers out of
school administrators.
I realize this isn't a new story. But somewhere between when
my two oldest kids entered grade school 10 years ago and now, as my youngest finishes her
first quarter in kindergarten, a change took hold.
"Has the Halloween hullabaloo hit your school system
yet?" the National Association of Elementary School Principals asked its members
several years ago. "If your school is trying to tone down, or totally repackage
Halloween, you have lots of company."
What was then a growing trend is now well established. This
week, I conducted a little survey of school calendars and concluded that it won't be long
before school fall festivals outnumber Halloween parties, if they don't already.
"We've toned it down, so to speak," is how Stacy
Shipley, principal at Countryside Elementary in Olathe, explained the difference between a
Halloween party and a harvest party.
Not only are violent costumes forbidden in Countryside's
harvest parade -- and who couldn't do with fewer pint-sized slashers? -- but make-believe
goblins, witches and ghosts also are discouraged, reflecting pressure from religious
fundamentalists.
"I think it's trying to take into consideration people's
viewpoints," is the politic way Orin Swift, principal at Havencroft Elementary in
Olathe, put it. Instead of ghouls, Havencroft pupils are encouraged this year to attend
the "fall parties" as knights, princesses and other storybook characters.
Certainly some schools still observe Halloween openly, but
the days without euphemism are numbered.
Walking past my neighborhood school the other day, I noted
that the marquee designated Oct. 31 as the date of our "fall festival."
Turns out, that was only for external public relations. Last
week's school newsletter set out details for the "Halloween" parade and parties
set for that day.
I don't mind telling you that I was quite relieved. In a
moment of weakness, I signed up to bring treats that day, and I have no idea how one would
decorate cupcakes for a fall festival. But I do suspect jack-o'-lanterns, spider rings and
devil faces are probably out.
The Kansas City Star
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Every
year, Halloween enthusiasts anxiously await the retail
industry to begin their Halloween season and see who's
first to stock products for the spooky season. Many
stores begin stocking Halloween products as early as
July! |
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