General Discussion

Wella

(1,827 posts)

106. A lot depends on the school and how they handle holidays.

Fri Oct 24, 2014, 06:48 PM

Oct 2014

Traditionally, Halloween is centered around sweets, and, in elementary school, many holidays are an excuse to bring in cupcakes, candy, etc. It can be a huge problem if you have a young child who can't have sweets.

And quite frankly, not everybody does celebrate Halloween. If you're a devout Christian who believes Halloween is Satanic (or at least pagan), you might not want the school reinforcing it. I understand that most Christians don't see it this way. It's a small group on the fringe that tends to have that issue. However, the number of potentially gay children in a classroom may also be very small (2-3%) and we cater to them with all kinds of tolerance training and inclusiveness. Why leave children with a particular religious background or with particular health issues out? We need to teach tolerance for ALL.

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Schools Eliminating Halloween? [View all] mia Oct 2014 OP

Yeah shenmue Oct 2014 #1

According to the article in the OP, it's not the religious who are doing it; it's about inclusivenes Wella Oct 2014 #2

How does Halloween exclude the obese? Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #6

Seriously, if you have a child prone to weight gain, Halloween can be a nightmare Wella Oct 2014 #16

Candy and sweets don't have to be the main focus of a Halloween celebration. Crunchy Frog Oct 2014 #27

I think that's true, but most of the time, Halloween IS about sweets Wella Oct 2014 #94

Tell that to the Hershey and Mars Corporations. TeamPooka Oct 2014 #131

Everything in moderation Trekologer Oct 2014 #43

If you're a kid with a weight issue, a food allergy, or ADD/ADHD and are on a special diet, there's Wella Oct 2014 #95

At my kids' school Halloween had nothing to do with candy. It was all about the costumes. pnwmom Oct 2014 #101

A lot depends on the school and how they handle holidays. Wella Oct 2014 #106

There's nothing religious about the way any school I've seen celebrates this dress-up party. pnwmom Oct 2014 #110

Wow. Just wow. Wella Oct 2014 #125

I responded to the wrong post Travis_0004 Oct 2014 #133

Results of Jury service Travis_0004 Oct 2014 #135

Because this isn't about inclusiveness. Everyone is invited to dress-up and go to the party. pnwmom Oct 2014 #142

Ya know, it's possible to celebrate halloween without stuffing kids full of candy... NT Adrahil Oct 2014 #44

But many teachers don't abide by this. Wella Oct 2014 #107

The deal with THAT issue instead of canceling the whole thing. Adrahil Oct 2014 #136

sounds like those mothers are the issue if they are relying on schools for parenting snooper2 Oct 2014 #87

They're not. They're trying to prevent the school from interefering with parenting Wella Oct 2014 #96

Are you going to end birthday celebrations at school too? Crunchy Frog Oct 2014 #132

One night of sweets is not responsible for childhood obesity. moriah Oct 2014 #146

No more and no less than Thanksgiving excludes the hungry. LanternWaste Oct 2014 #90

The schools don't exclude any children from the parade. mia Oct 2014 #9

Obesity? alp227 Oct 2014 #13

No, many young children are either obese or prone to weight gain Wella Oct 2014 #20

That's a part of life Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #50

Good for you that your kid doesn't like candy. But Wella Oct 2014 #97

Food and candy aren't going anywhere phil89 Oct 2014 #82

But you don't need to drag it into the classroom Wella Oct 2014 #98

How many pounds do you gain from two rolls of smartees? Scootaloo Oct 2014 #126

How many kids stop at 2 rolls of smartees? How many classrooms do? Wella Oct 2014 #129

Yes, but this does not cause obesity Scootaloo Oct 2014 #130

You could make that argument about any school activity, including team sports. pnwmom Oct 2014 #35

Why is it ridiculous? It is wrong to exclude children on the basis of race, sex, creed or ability Wella Oct 2014 #99

Halloween is just a dress-up game. It doesn't exclude children anymore than pnwmom Oct 2014 #100

No, Halloween is an old pagan holiday that is now about eating candy Wella Oct 2014 #105

It doesn't matter what it was several hundred years ago. Now it's a big dress-up party. pnwmom Oct 2014 #111

It matters to some people, maybe not to you. Not everything is the way you perceive it. Wella Oct 2014 #112

I know what it's like not to be able to eat the food other people can eat. pnwmom Oct 2014 #114

So a kid in a wheelchair should be able to insist there be no sports at his school Generic Other Oct 2014 #102

Or sports accessible to him in his wheelchair. Wella Oct 2014 #113

So you believe they should offer alternatives to Halloween after all Generic Other Oct 2014 #119

I actually believe that all students need to be included in school activities Wella Oct 2014 #123

Then why not send diabetic-safe sweets for your child to eat? The stores are full of them. pnwmom Oct 2014 #143

I agree with you. mia Oct 2014 #8

That I haven't seen. I have seen people objecting for dietary reasons. Wella Oct 2014 #21

I can just imagine� witches, warlocks, vampires, ghosts�. and Noah. I bet none of the religious KittyWampus Oct 2014 #25

You just gave me an idea JustAnotherGen Oct 2014 #55

Dude, the Old Testament prophets are fucking SCARY Scootaloo Oct 2014 #127

Now that's my kind of proxy war! Iggo Oct 2014 #60

Kids love Halloween. I've never heard of LibDemAlways Oct 2014 #3

I'm horrified by this - I LOVE Halloween TorchTheWitch Oct 2014 #56

My daughter attends UC Santa Barbara and Halloween LibDemAlways Oct 2014 #69

OMG! I'm hyperventilating at just the thought! TorchTheWitch Oct 2014 #78

Thank Dog that hasn't yet impacted my sons' school. Crunchy Frog Oct 2014 #4

My elementary school never had a Halloween Party Art_from_Ark Oct 2014 #32

This is the result of thinking it's a right not to be offended scarystuffyo Oct 2014 #5

The over-protection bubble is getting a little out of hand Trekologer Oct 2014 #46

More stupid nonsense in the name of political correctness (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #7

Do you think a kid is going to be scarred for life/improperly influenced, alp227 Oct 2014 #14

No (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #15

So why do you disagree with the school's decision? nt alp227 Oct 2014 #17

Because it's stupid nonsense in the name of political correctness. (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #19

Actually a good deal of it is dietary Wella Oct 2014 #22

You can have a Halloween celebration without sugary snacks. n/t Crunchy Frog Oct 2014 #28

Oh c'mon... This isn't about candy. Adrahil Oct 2014 #45

They have these new things called pretzels, apples, goldfish, etc. kysrsoze Oct 2014 #73

I ate a goldfish once, they are kind of slimy at first snooper2 Oct 2014 #88

if it is done DonCoquixote Oct 2014 #40

+1 RandySF Oct 2014 #68

I hope christmas is going to be treated the same Politicalboi Oct 2014 #10

Wait..... Thanksgiving is "Christmas based"? Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #12

Lol. Maybe because of commercialization, Thanksgiving BECAME Christmas-based. alp227 Oct 2014 #18

I was taught that the first Thanksgiving was about thanking God for having survived that year merrily Oct 2014 #30

"Foot the bill" A HERETIC I AM Oct 2014 #36

Just celebrate them at home treestar Oct 2014 #64

It doesn't.... BUT... Adrahil Oct 2014 #77

Sure we could all celebrade New Years... Glassunion Oct 2014 #145

My kid goes to a religious school and they're having a party tomorrow RandySF Oct 2014 #11

You seem to be ignoring the bits about food/nutrition. Besides, a private merrily Oct 2014 #31

Like Randy said, "Some people and schools are too uptight." kysrsoze Oct 2014 #75

Our son's elementary school cancelled Halloween festivities a few years back MannyGoldstein Oct 2014 #23

The five year old birthday parties around here are pretty liquored up affairs. n/t Crunchy Frog Oct 2014 #29

When I was a kid in Walpole we had my friends grandmother who owned a huge old house... Marrah_G Oct 2014 #84

I teach first grade, and I say Fuck Halloween. roody Oct 2014 #24

what the hell demwing Oct 2014 #38

I have a great idea for school. roody Oct 2014 #117

You're right, Halloween will destroy education as we know it demwing Oct 2014 #120

As a first grade teacher surely you know that for small children especially playing is how they liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #124

I bet you're fun at parties! Adrahil Oct 2014 #48

Those poor students of yours... kysrsoze Oct 2014 #74

Don't worry. They adore me. roody Oct 2014 #115

No No, Fuck Ice cream demwing Oct 2014 #121

So a dairy party once a month is fantastic Codeine Oct 2014 #137

Why are we a nation of sheep? roody Oct 2014 #144

Why? Marrah_G Oct 2014 #85

Fortunately, at my school, we don't do costume parties. roody Oct 2014 #116

But isn't fun and imagination also important? Marrah_G Oct 2014 #118

No no, Fuck fun and imagination demwing Oct 2014 #122

To be inclusive, the PTA buys a blank roody Oct 2014 #139

Wait, an all you can eat ice cream party Codeine Oct 2014 #138

My students are mostly poor. I feed them roody Oct 2014 #140

how do you fuck a holiday, are holidays into foreplay? snooper2 Oct 2014 #89

LOL azmom Oct 2014 #109

Great Mister Nightowl Oct 2014 #26

There was a big uproar here last year Tree-Hugger Oct 2014 #33

what boring people!!! Niceguy1 Oct 2014 #71

For many of us, Hallowe'en became or has been disassociated from All Hallows Evening, both as it is merrily Oct 2014 #34

So let them cancel Christmas. Not everyone celebrates THAT holiday demwing Oct 2014 #37

Let's ban MLK Jr day demwing Oct 2014 #39

Oh they'd easily ban that one. nt TBF Oct 2014 #41

Not a good analogy treestar Oct 2014 #65

Down here the schools and churches TBF Oct 2014 #42

Don't you know it is their right to be constantly surrounded by reminders of their religion? Trekologer Oct 2014 #47

You bet I know - TBF Oct 2014 #49

people who complain about Halloween being evil maryellen99 Oct 2014 #62

There's big money in Christmas demwing Oct 2014 #52

Ah, that makes even more sense. TBF Oct 2014 #57

The Harvest festivals I've attended included costumes Ilsa Oct 2014 #51

Seriously? In what large city do the people celebrate a 'Harvest Festival'? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #53

Houston - TBF Oct 2014 #58

Oh, large cities have plenty of 'festivals', Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #59

Our school is eliminating Halloween this year gollygee Oct 2014 #54

I agree with you. Especially when there is an evening festival. mia Oct 2014 #93

Let's put it this way... ReRe Oct 2014 #61

I don't have a big problem with it treestar Oct 2014 #63

Back in the late 80s/early 90s when I was in elementary school we didn't celebrate Halloween tammywammy Oct 2014 #66

How misleading. LWolf Oct 2014 #67

Our school just provides an alternative activity for those who don't celebrate Halloween. cyberswede Oct 2014 #70

We had this issue 25 years ago in my kids' elementary school frazzled Oct 2014 #72

Wanted to talk about the last bit. Adrahil Oct 2014 #79

Well, in my case frazzled Oct 2014 #81

Reasonable response treestar Oct 2014 #92

When I hear "harvest festive" Kelvin Mace Oct 2014 #76

One of my favorite films Generic Other Oct 2014 #108

The new version is pretty hilarious, in its way Scootaloo Oct 2014 #128

They will have plenty of fattening foods at harvest fest .this is about religion, kids staying home lunasun Oct 2014 #80

It is a holy day for me- one of our four major ones Marrah_G Oct 2014 #83

In our house we have a yearly Dumb Supper on Samhain justiceischeap Oct 2014 #86

Yes- I enjoy the supper too Marrah_G Oct 2014 #91

The apartment house where I live is having a "Harvest" festival this coming Wednesday. There's Louisiana1976 Oct 2014 #103

I am anti-war Generic Other Oct 2014 #104

I don't like costumes that have blood and gore exhibited. Stellar Oct 2014 #134

Um, I know quite a few people don't celebrate Christmas... Baitball Blogger Oct 2014 #141

I'm reminded of this episode from South Park about Christmas.... moriah Oct 2014 #147