Seattle school bans Halloween to avoid offending witches

tk13 · 10-22-2004, 04:13 PM

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...tml?source=rss

Puyallup schools ban Halloween festivities

By DEBORAH BACH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

There will be no kiddie costume parade, no classroom candy handouts this year in Puyallup's public schools.

The district put the kibosh on all Halloween festivities during school hours, enforcing a policy that's been in place for several years but is being applied for the first time to Oct. 31 celebrations.

District officials say the ban is largely a matter of religious sensitivity -- to Wiccans.

Assistant Superintendent Tony Apostle advised Puyallup principals in a memo last week that Halloween costumes and parties are now banned. Pumpkins and cornstalks are fine, he said, but witches, black cats or "similar decorations that are intended to frighten or scare individuals" are not.

Halloween is a religious holiday for Wiccans, the memo noted, and its celebration in mainstream culture has generated unsavory images that might offend real-life witches.

"Building administrators should not tolerate such inappropriate stereotyping (images such as witches on flying brooms, stirring caldrons, casting spells, or with long noses and pointed hats)," Apostle's memo states.

But one Wiccan leader was cynical about the school district's motivation.

Pete Davis, pastor of Aquarian Tabernacle Church in tiny Index, west of Stevens Pass, suggests that the ban is a thinly veiled attempt to banish a holiday seen by some Christians as an evil festival.

Davis said the ancient Celtic holiday of Samh'ain, which traditionally marked the last harvest of the year, has been misinterpreted by some as a celebration of "Samhain" -- supposedly a satanic god of the dead.

"The religious right has for years been trying to put an end to any Halloween celebrations," he said.

Wiccans -- who practice a pagan, earth-based religion -- are used to the stereotypes accompanying Halloween, Davis said.

"It's something we're not exactly excited about -- the evil witch with the green face -- but it's part of our culture, and it's never going to go away."

District spokeswoman Karen Hansen said Puyallup schools moved away from observing religious holidays years ago, switching from Christmas concerts to "winter festivals" and other secular celebrations.

Halloween was a holiday with "some wiggle room," Hansen said, and decisions about recognizing it were left to schools. Hansen knew of only one -- Maplewood Elementary -- that paid homage to trick-or-treaters with a costume parade every year.

But as the district reviewed its instructional programs going into the school year, administrators felt that the push for greater academic achievement left little room for Halloween frivolity. Besides, Hansen said, costumes are a distraction for students.

"Their focus becomes partying, candy, trick-or-treating," she said.

Seattle Public Schools has no official policy on Halloween celebrations, but spokeswoman Patti Spencer said many schools have replaced the holiday with "harvest celebrations" and other observances.

"In many of our schools we have quite a few students whose families don't celebrate the traditional Halloween," she said. "So we want to move toward things that are more inclusive."

A Puyallup parent, Holly Cockerham, said while her third-grade daughter had fun wearing her Sleeping Beauty costume to school last year, she's not overly disappointed about the new restriction.

"They're not losing Halloween. They're still going trick-or-treating," she said. "I don't think it's that big of an issue myself."

**Saulbadguy** · 10-22-2004, 04:19 PM

If you would read the entire article, the main point of banning halloween parties was because they took away from valuable education time, of course the part about offending witches got the most play.

Of course, noone talked about offending satanists when little kids dress up like devils..

**Saulbadguy** · 10-22-2004, 04:25 PM

Personally I think most Wiccans are just attention whores.

Duck Dog · 10-22-2004, 04:27 PM

Yeah, Seattle is a known bastion for Christians.

philfree · 10-22-2004, 04:44 PM

I don't ever remember getting candy at school for Halloween. I'll have to ask my daughter if that goes on at her school. Do they hand out candy at schools in the KC area for Halloween? To me this is just so not news of any value. WTF?

PhilFree

Eleazar · 10-22-2004, 04:54 PM

You'd think these people would like their 'art' being celebrated.

**KcMizzou** · 10-22-2004, 05:29 PM

My kids' scool doesnt celebrate Halloween. (I couldn't get them to say why..) It blew me away when I found out. They replaced it with a week full of themed days like "crazy socks day" and "backwards day"

On the actual holiday they can bring candy to share with the class, but they don't get to dress up, and there are no decorations or anything.

Complete BS, IMO. What's the harm in a bunch of 2nd graders doing the little costume parade?

Hydrae · 10-22-2004, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

My kids' scool doesnt celebrate Halloween. (I couldn't get them to say why..) It blew me away when I found out. They replaced it with a week full of themed days like "crazy socks day" and "backwards day"

On the actual holiday they can bring candy to share with the class, but they don't get to dress up, and there are no decorations or anything.

Complete BS, IMO. What's the harm in a bunch of 2nd graders doing the little costume parade?

I know some of this is due to not wanting those kids from poor families to feel slighted when they don't have a costume or one not bought at a store. This is usually one of the main reasons schools use to try for uniforms also.

Now get in line and act like everyone else! Until you are an adult and then you are encouraged to think outside the box. Of course most people didn't even realize they were in the same box as everyone else.

Fairplay · 10-22-2004, 05:37 PM

I had a female boss that was a witch. And yes she had a nick name that rhymed with witch too. I say get rid of them.

"It's something we're not exactly excited about -- the evil witch with the green face -- but it's part of our culture, and it's never going to go away."

Yep, I never thought she would go away.

**KcMizzou** · 10-22-2004, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

I know some of this is due to not wanting those kids from poor families to feel slighted when they don't have a costume or one not bought at a store.

That's a little more understandable.. but I still think it's kinda silly...

I remember when my little sister was around 8... she wore a flannel shirt, bib overalls, a trucker hat, painted on whiskers, etc... she went as "grandpa". She actually won a costume contest. It's easy to make a costume without spending anything.

Now if the kids parents just dont care enough to bother... that's a different story...

philfree · 10-22-2004, 05:42 PM

"How do you know she's a witch?"

"She turned me into a newt!" "We'll I'm better now."

PhilFree

Fairplay · 10-22-2004, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

Up til that point I thought you were just describing her everyday school attire.

That is fantastic!!!!!

Hydrae · 10-22-2004, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

That's a little more understandable.. but I still think it's kinda silly...

I remember when my little sister was around 8... she wore a flannel shirt, bib overalls, a trucker hat, painted on whiskers, etc... she went as "grandpa". She actually won a costume contest. It's easy to make a costume without spending anything.

Now if the kids parents just dont care enough to bother... that's a different story...

I didn't say I agreed with that point of view. Heck, the old sheet with a couple of holes for your eyes still works also. Most kids would love to dress up in mom or dad's old clothes for Halloween. Probably even more so in front of all of their friends at school!

**KcMizzou** · 10-22-2004, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

Up til that point I thought you were just describing her everyday school attire.

Heheh... well it was Weston. So you're probably not far off...

**KcMizzou** · 10-22-2004, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

I didn't say I agreed with that point of view.

Oh, I know.

Quote:

Heck, the old sheet with a couple of holes for your eyes still works also.

Yep..

The old Charlie Brown costume.

10-22-2004, 04:13 PM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1882500	Seattle school bans Halloween to avoid offending witches http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...tml?source=rss Puyallup schools ban Halloween festivities By DEBORAH BACH SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER There will be no kiddie costume parade, no classroom candy handouts this year in Puyallup's public schools. The district put the kibosh on all Halloween festivities during school hours, enforcing a policy that's been in place for several years but is being applied for the first time to Oct. 31 celebrations. District officials say the ban is largely a matter of religious sensitivity -- to Wiccans. Assistant Superintendent Tony Apostle advised Puyallup principals in a memo last week that Halloween costumes and parties are now banned. Pumpkins and cornstalks are fine, he said, but witches, black cats or "similar decorations that are intended to frighten or scare individuals" are not. Halloween is a religious holiday for Wiccans, the memo noted, and its celebration in mainstream culture has generated unsavory images that might offend real-life witches. "Building administrators should not tolerate such inappropriate stereotyping (images such as witches on flying brooms, stirring caldrons, casting spells, or with long noses and pointed hats)," Apostle's memo states. But one Wiccan leader was cynical about the school district's motivation. Pete Davis, pastor of Aquarian Tabernacle Church in tiny Index, west of Stevens Pass, suggests that the ban is a thinly veiled attempt to banish a holiday seen by some Christians as an evil festival. Davis said the ancient Celtic holiday of Samh'ain, which traditionally marked the last harvest of the year, has been misinterpreted by some as a celebration of "Samhain" -- supposedly a satanic god of the dead. "The religious right has for years been trying to put an end to any Halloween celebrations," he said. Wiccans -- who practice a pagan, earth-based religion -- are used to the stereotypes accompanying Halloween, Davis said. "It's something we're not exactly excited about -- the evil witch with the green face -- but it's part of our culture, and it's never going to go away." District spokeswoman Karen Hansen said Puyallup schools moved away from observing religious holidays years ago, switching from Christmas concerts to "winter festivals" and other secular celebrations. Halloween was a holiday with "some wiggle room," Hansen said, and decisions about recognizing it were left to schools. Hansen knew of only one -- Maplewood Elementary -- that paid homage to trick-or-treaters with a costume parade every year. But as the district reviewed its instructional programs going into the school year, administrators felt that the push for greater academic achievement left little room for Halloween frivolity. Besides, Hansen said, costumes are a distraction for students. "Their focus becomes partying, candy, trick-or-treating," she said. Seattle Public Schools has no official policy on Halloween celebrations, but spokeswoman Patti Spencer said many schools have replaced the holiday with "harvest celebrations" and other observances. "In many of our schools we have quite a few students whose families don't celebrate the traditional Halloween," she said. "So we want to move toward things that are more inclusive." A Puyallup parent, Holly Cockerham, said while her third-grade daughter had fun wearing her Sleeping Beauty costume to school last year, she's not overly disappointed about the new restriction. "They're not losing Halloween. They're still going trick-or-treating," she said. "I don't think it's that big of an issue myself."
Posts: 54,967

10-22-2004, 04:19 PM	#2
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2536966	If you would read the entire article, the main point of banning halloween parties was because they took away from valuable education time, of course the part about offending witches got the most play. Of course, noone talked about offending satanists when little kids dress up like devils..
Posts: 46,968

10-22-2004, 04:25 PM	#3
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2536966	Personally I think most Wiccans are just attention whores.
Posts: 46,968

10-22-2004, 04:27 PM	#4
Duck Dog Reap the whirlwind Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Olathe Casino cash: $10004900	Yeah, Seattle is a known bastion for Christians.
Posts: 8,902

10-22-2004, 04:44 PM	#5
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $1546198	I don't ever remember getting candy at school for Halloween. I'll have to ask my daughter if that goes on at her school. Do they hand out candy at schools in the KC area for Halloween? To me this is just so not news of any value. WTF? PhilFree __________________ [/SIGPIC]
Posts: 14,988

10-22-2004, 04:54 PM	#6
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	You'd think these people would like their 'art' being celebrated.
Posts: 80,659

10-22-2004, 05:29 PM	#7
KcMizzou Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Parkville MO Casino cash: $10005170	My kids' scool doesnt celebrate Halloween. (I couldn't get them to say why..) It blew me away when I found out. They replaced it with a week full of themed days like "crazy socks day" and "backwards day" On the actual holiday they can bring candy to share with the class, but they don't get to dress up, and there are no decorations or anything. Complete BS, IMO. What's the harm in a bunch of 2nd graders doing the little costume parade?
Posts: 54,695

10-22-2004, 05:37 PM	#9
Fairplay A certain set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: texas Casino cash: $10026683 VARSITY	I had a female boss that was a witch. And yes she had a nick name that rhymed with witch too. I say get rid of them. "It's something we're not exactly excited about -- the evil witch with the green face -- but it's part of our culture, and it's never going to go away." Yep, I never thought she would go away.
Posts: 25,265

10-22-2004, 05:42 PM	#11
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $1546198	"How do you know she's a witch?" "She turned me into a newt!" "We'll I'm better now." PhilFree __________________ [/SIGPIC]
Posts: 14,988