Posted on 10/21/2004 8:14:41 AM PDT by microgood
PUYALLUP - "Let them have their 30-minutes of dressing goofy and having candy," said Silas Macon on the grounds of Puyallup's Maplewood Elementary School Wednesday afternoon.
He'd just learned the grade school tradition of a party and parade in costume during the last half-hour of class before Halloween night won't happen this year in the Puyallup School District for his two daughters.
The superintendent has cancelled all Halloween activities.
A letter sent home to parents Wednesday states there will be no observance of Halloween in the entire school district.
"We really want to make sure we're using all of our time in the best interest of our students," explained Puyallup School District spokesperson Karen Hansen.
Hansen says the superintendent made the decision for three primary reasons. First, Halloween parties and parades waste valuable classroom time. In addition some families can't afford costumes.
It's the third reason some Puyallup parents are struggling with.
The district says Halloween celebrations and children dressed in Halloween costumes might be offensive to real witches.
"Witches with pointy noses and things like that are not respective symbols of the Wiccan religion and so we want to be respectful of that," said Hansen.
The Wiccan, or Pagan, religion is growing in the U.S. and there are Wiccan groups in Puyallup.
Number eight on the district's guidelines related to holidays and celebrations reads as follows: "Use of derogatory stereotypes is prohibited, such as the traditional image of a witch, which is offensive to members of the Wiccan religion."
"I do lots of things that are not revolving around wearing a black outfit and stirring a cauldron," said Wiccan Priestess Cheryl Sulyma-Masson in an interview with ABC News where she explained that Wiccans (or Pagan Clergy) celebrate nature, not Satan.
A Puyallup School District internal email dating from October 2000 warns that "the Wiccan religion is a bona fide religion under the law, and its followers are entitled to all the protections afforded more mainstream religions. Building administrators should not tolerate such inappropriate stereotyping (images such as Witches on flying brooms, stirring cauldrons, casting spells, or with long noses and pointed hats) and instead address them as you would hurtful stereotypes of any other minority."
2004, however, is the first year that the superintendent decided to cite that concern, along with loss of classroom study time and protection for students who can't afford costumes, as motivation for canceling in-school Halloween activities.
"They're so worried about being politically correct anymore that we're not allowed to do much of anything," said parent Tonya Reynolds whose daughter attends Maplewood Elementary.
"If you don't want costumes call it a harvest party. We don't have to take out complete Halloween. We could still do something for our children," said parent Loni Andrews who promises to challenge the ruling at the next school board meeting.
"Yeah it does bother me because I would really like to go around and dress up," said Maplewood 6th grader Grace Macon.
"I think it's terrible," added Silas Macon. "I think it just kind of takes away from the little stuff they get to do that's fun at school."
"It's a little bit of both," said Hansen of the study time and religious reasons for canceling Halloween activities. "I don't think you can balance respect with instructional time and we would always be looking to do both. We want to make sure our students are respectful of all religions and all cultures.
Hansen also said that the PTA and teachers have been notified that they can hold parties or other Halloween events after the school day is over. Classroom time, however, will not be used for Halloween celebrations. Hansen says concerns about other holidays and parties held in school will be decided on a case by case basis.
Puyallup has gone to the dark side.
What utter horse-pucky.
I worked in a public school for over two years.
They waste fabulous amounts of time trying to keep the kids busy and doing make-work.
This is PC BS.
Somebody got their panties in a twist and was "offended".
No Christmas either...might offend the fat, jolly people dressed in red that are known to be a growing group in Puyallup.
Offensive to real witches? OMG now I have heard everything! Those people who run schools in Washington state must have rocks where their brains are?
You will obey. You will not have fun. You will be ruled by the minority. Or else.
You think it's bad now, wait till the Democrats get into to power. They'll have NEA and union thugs going around with clubs to thrash you in the streets and in your home if you don't toe the PC line.
This is in Washington state isn't it?
When I was a kid, we wore our Halloween costumes all day at school on Halloween day. The "liberals" really are moralistic fascists aren't they?
Respectful to Wiccans but not Christians? How does one explain that?
"The district says Halloween celebrations and children dressed in Halloween costumes might be offensive to real witches. "
Spineless cowards. There really are two Americas. The one that is afraid of everything and lives it's life in fear and the one that has courage and defies new-age reasoning and indoctonation.
Some fundamentalist Christians oppose Halloween as a celebration of evil. This school district has put itself in a position of being accused of violating the supposed 'separation of church and state' clause (which, like goblins, also doesn't exist).
heh, this article strikes me in two different ways.
First, it's just appalling to me that something enjoyable for 1/2 hour a day is being taken away from children. School is school and the priority is education but these are kids. And Kids should be allowed "play time." I miss seeing kids play and just have fun.
On the other hand, I'm chuckling at this because first they began taking our Christian observances away from our kids. And if they're going to remove observations of Christmas and Easter - I think it's about time a non-Christian holiday took a hit.
Still, I'd like to see the kids enjoy them all. It is sad when these things are taken away from our children.
- just a mom's 2 cents.
School officials are in a panic because of high-stakes testing. Their jobs are at stake. Many public schools today are turning into test/indoctrination centers. It's unfortunate for them, because in the long run, it's going to turn off students and their parents, who will look to homeschooling and private schools.
http://www.susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=285
I wonder if this school district is as deferential to Christians as it is to Wiccans?
Fascist fits this nicely IMO.
Be very happy this American Mom doesn't live in your school district.
Because my kids would show up in their costumes ANYWAY!
Puyallup School District Board of Directors
http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/bod/
Cowardly District Superintendent/Admins won't list their email address.
302 Second St. S.E. Puyallup, WA 98372 phone (253) 841-1301
http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/admin/index.htm
ping
Careful what you say!
The Goblins have already contacted the ACLU for your slander of saying that they don't exist!
I just got done telling our school what I thought of the MEAP.
ANd I told them that my daughter will NOT be visiting the "Arab-American Culteral Center"
And I let them know that I keep a lawyer on retainer and I have loads of free time.
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