HALLOWEEN EDITORIAL / OPINION

School Halloween decision draws parental protest
Citing fairness, the principal canceled a costume parade in favor of a fall festival.
Some parents strongly objected.
By Lee Drutman

Tuesday, September 26, 2000 - For years now, elementary-school principals across the country have been replacing traditional Halloween costume parades with fall festivals, primarily to eliminate the violence some feel is inherent in the holiday.

But at Pennsbury's Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School, principal Robert Wurst has found a less obvious reason to cancel the traditional parade.

"It adds up to a number of students for whom the traditional celebration of Halloween is not comfortable," said Wurst, now in his second year as principal at Eleanor Roosevelt. "To me, it's a matter of speaking for the smallest voice, whether it's a child who is frightened by any masks or people whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating."

So this Oct. 30 and 31, instead of the traditional parade, Eleanor Roosevelt will have an inclusive two-day Fall Festival/Harvest Day Celebration. Activities will include hayrides, a mime show and a picnic. (Total cost: $1,500 of PTO funds).

As for costumes, each grade will pick a theme, and all students will make costumes in class, thereby eliminating two other Halloween problems Wurst has observed - that not every student can afford a nice costume, and not every parent has the time to make one.

But while the principal is striving to ensure that no children are uncomfortable, a number of parents say they are now uncomfortable that the traditional Halloween celebration has been taken away from them. Some recently sent out anonymous fliers complaining about the disappearance of the parade.

"It's just something that everybody does, and it's fun," said parent and parade supporter Chuck Mamzic. "Why do we have to spoil it for the kids? Do we have to ruin everything for our own hypersensitivity about politics or religion?"

"Just let us have the traditional parade," said parent Gina Walters. "That's what Halloween is all about. Some children plan on what they're going to be all year. To most people, Halloween is a big deal."

But PTO president Anne Bucher, who supports the fall festival, argues that there are plenty of other places for students to show off their costumes, such as in the mall or in neighborhood parades.

At a PTO meeting last week, an effort by parents to reinstate the traditional parade failed to gain PTO support. The eight-member PTO executive board has supported the fall festival since the spring, when members first discussed the change.

Wurst said the idea came up last fall, when a number of teachers expressed concern about how Halloween was celebrated at the school.

"Eleanor Roosevelt is a very diverse school, with students from many different backgrounds and cultures," he said. "The staff felt for a number of reasons there might be something else we would want to consider."

Wurst, however, was hesitant to single out any group. "It's important to recognize that there are various religious groups and cultures [that do not participate]."

On the whole, he said, his decision has been supported by the majority of parents.

"It was a very open-minded and fair and compassionate idea," said PTO member Janet Hendrick. "I don't think any of us wanted any of the children to be excluded. That was the whole reason to try something different. I thought it was wonderful that he gave the children a voice. . . . It's opened my eyes."

But parent Teresa Kamins did not buy that argument. "Life is not inclusive," she said. "All kids do not make the same teams and get invited to the same parties. I think it's a simple pleasure and a right the schoolchild has all his life."

Eleanor Roosevelt will not be the only Pennsbury elementary school without a traditional parade this fall. Penn Valley principal Karen Casto said her school had gone with an educational theme parade for three years because of concerns about violence. Casto said the idea had met with some resistance in the first year that had since faded.

Philadelphia Inquirer

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