Bad news for parents and kids living in Skokie, Illinois: Halloween is cancelled! Well, at least in certain schools.

One of the community's school districts recently announced that from this year on, they are banning the holiday! Now that's just plain mean. I thought the Grinch is only supposed to steal Christmas!



According to the superintendent Quintin Shepherd, "there will be no costumes, no candy bags, no parties." Why? The schooladministration sent out a letter to parents earlier this week, explaining that the decision was made for economic and social reasons. "Many students cannot afford costumes and there is an economic disparity. We also have students that are unable to participate for religious or cultural reasons," the note read. Shepherd also said that attendance drops about 5 percent on Halloween day.

Excuse me, but how is it the kid's fault if their parents don't send them to school? That hardly seems like a fair reason to cancel all holiday-related activities. And while I understand the religious and financial reasoning behind the administrator's decision, I still don't agree with their choice. Parents don't have to buy $60 costumes for their kids, especially when they're young. With a little creativity, they can easily make one at home…and it might actually be a fun project for them to do with their children! Maybe they should just make creating fun, homemade Halloween costumes into a school project?

I also don't believe religious beliefs should play into an school activities (or lack thereof). Parents who don't want their kids to participate simply shouldn't have them dress up and that's all. It's not like anyone is forcing the children to get involved if they don't want to. Plus, at a certain point, schools need to stop being so worried about being politically correct and remember that the holiday is supposed to be fun!

To make matters worse, school officials didn't even consult the parents or the community before making the final call because they knew they'd be upset--talk about sneaky! At the very least, the district should have sought some input from their own members. The fact that they didn't only makes me think they knew they making the wrong decision.

Parents in the area are now trying to fight the ban with a petition. Some have also claimed that they will be keeping their children at home on the day of to have their own celebration. To which I say, good for them! Little kids deserve to have fun and enjoy the holiday--in school or outside of it.




http://articles.mamaslatinas.com/in_the_news/106588/grinchy_school_district_cancels_halloween




"Parents don't have to buy $60 costumes for their kids, especially when they're young.

Parents don't have to buy $60 costumes for their kids, especially when they're young.

Parents don't have to buy $60 costumes for their kids, especially when they're young.

Parents don't have to buy $60 costumes for their kids, especially when they're young." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I doubt money is the real issue behind this decision. The kids this reason supposedly applies to will probably go Trick or Treating anyway, costume or not.