[Rural Scarecrow]

I have 3 kids, two are older now, and my youngest is in 1st. grade. We live in IL. and this is the first time ever we have ran into a situation in which two parents are complaining this year about the kids annual "Halloween parade" at school, & a field trip to the local pumpkin farm. The teachers then have the kids pick out a large pumpkin and then they all help carve it the next day in class. These parents took this as high as to the superintendant complaining they wanted it stopped. Several other parents then got involved and stated this was crazy as it was tradition and was not hurting anything. Ruling today - The children of the parents that do not want to take part can either go to the library, sit in the hall, or be picked up by the parents with an excused absence. The Halloween carving and parade will go on as it always has. I just fell in love with my childerens school and the town we live in even more -

 

[moony_1]

Yay! Happy to see they will carry on the tradition

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I love it when people have a spine and don't bend over to that type of parent.

 

[RCIAG]

They complained about the pumpkin patch? I could almost understand the Halloween parade complaint, we all know how some get about our holiday, but the pumpkin patch thing is just nuts.

Are they Jehovah Witnesses or what?

 

[texmaster]

What was their argument not to do it?

 

[Rural Scarecrow]

From what I understand, is that they did not like the field trip as it was promoting Halloween as is the teacher taking part and having the kids helping in carving the pumpkin. The school is Kindergarten - Second grade and all the teachers do the same thing every year. My thought - I know a lot of these parents have numerous kids and are working one to two jobs - This is probably the only time they will carve a pumpkin as kids. Plus, this is just a Halloween parade, party, and pumpkin carving we are talking about. I am sure there are many bigger issues in the school district we all can be focusing on. If you do not want to particpate, then that is your choice, nobody is making you.

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Good to see some common sense for a change!

 

[CrypticCuriosity]

Its ridiculous that they feel they should ruin the fun and traditions of others because of their personal beliefs. My mother was Jehovah's Witness and even she didn't complain about other people celebrating or try to ruin their fun, she simply didn't participate herself and left it at that. You must have either a lot of time on your hands or some kind of weird agenda if you'd take the time to try to get something like this shut down.

 

[StanFam3]

Fantastic!!! Wish our school had the gumption to do that!

 

[Countess No]

Our kid's school has done away with traditional halloween on the basis of obesity and nutritional concerns.

I guess that one day of halloween candy cancels out the other 363 of eating healthy and getting exercise.

Glad to hear sanity exists elsewhere, and some kids still get to have fun in a traditional way.

 

[Palladino]

Sheesh! Is it just me or are there a bunch of people out there who just don't want kids to have any fun?

 

[Countess No]

Sheesh! Is it just me or are there a bunch of people out there who just don't want kids to have any fun?

There are bunches of no fun people. Do what you wish with your own child, but don't force privately held views on all kids in a school or community.

 

[ooojen]

It sounds like the school handled it fairly and reasonably. Good for them! I do feel a tinge of sympathy for the kids whose parents will insist they sit in the library while their classmates are having fun-- but I certainly don't think it would be better if no one had fun! Allowing students the option of going home with an excused absence is certainly fair.
Our local elementary school is quite pro-Halloween (and other holidays) fun. I give them high ratings for that. They did put an end to bringing in treats for class parties, though. The argument about "obesity and nutritional concerns" really pissed me off-- not because it's not a huge and important issue, but because they're so hypocritical. Kids can't have a piece of candy a few times a year, but they can eat school lunches daily, and get served grease-soaked mystery stuff...chicken "nuggets", fried breaded almost-pork patties, low-end hot dogs...Yech!

 

[LaBruja]

they only want their ( and everyone else's children ) to have uber supervised, restrictive, and up to ( down to) THEIR standards of fun.
I love that democracy worked as it was supposed to. 2 people should not be able to abolish something because it does not abide by their beliefs or "might" offend someone. The school did right in allowing excused absences.No one is forcing THEM to do something. Yet they want to force everyone to their will. Sucks

 

[ravenworks69]

Several years ago they stopped the haunted house portion of the annual fall festival at my daughters school. It wasn't such a great hardship since it was a bit cheesy to begin with. Then sighting there is to much going on in the fall allready, I,e, sports and a lot of students would have to miss games, they did away with fall festival all together. There's always somebody that will try to ruin it for every body.
Accommodations can be made and compromises can be found if folks would just communicate and respect each others positions. The school has said no to wearing costumes on Halloween to school because it can be distracting. I understand that, but they also said because its RIF month (reading is fundamental) they could come dressed as their favorite book character.

 

[Screaming Demons]

Our local elementary school had a pumpkin run during school hours last Friday. Glad to see that common sense isn't completely dead in this country.

 

[Berserker]

Finally someone standing up to these pricks.