When I was in school Halloween was a big deal. We could wear our Halloween costumes to school. We had a dress-up contest and those who participated got to parade up and down the hallway. For several years my school hosted a Fall Festival that included a haunted house.
Today these things do not happen. In my area very few schools allow students to dress-up. If the students are allowed to dress-up they can only wear selected costumes. No scary costumes are allowed. The children must wear character or career outfits.
The name Halloween is also carefully used in schools. Many schools have now changed the term Halloween party to fall celebration. Some teachers do nothing special on Halloween day. They simply do not acknowledge it.
I can understand how Halloween can be controversial. It can be hard especially for families that take it literally as a devil’s holiday. In my family we have always thought of Halloween as a time to dress-up and get candy. Nothing more was thought or mentioned.
I can also understand how small children feel the need or excitement to talk about Halloween. It is very hard for children not to discuss Halloween at school when they have put so much thought into their costumes.
Some teachers get out of the whole decision making process by taking a field trip on Halloween day. Most field trips are scheduled for pumpkin patches and farms.
I suppose it is the decision of each teacher or principal to decide if Halloween will be celebrated or acknowledged in the classroom. While I am against having children dress-up and parade (more due to the total chaos than anything else), I am not against a few cupcakes with pumpkin rings on top.
My curiosity of other locations has leaded me to ask you, “What does your child’s school do for Halloween?” Please comment and let me know!
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