Most children can’t wait to wear the costumes they prepared for Halloween party.
After all, you get to scare others and get some candies in return.
But many schools announced that they will not celebrate Halloween due to issues of inclusivity.
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 in Chicago announced last month that the beloved holiday won’t be celebrated as it alienates certain members of the student body and the staff who don’t participate for personal or religious reasons.
The statement from the superintendents read: “As part of our school and district-wide commitment to equity, we are focused on building community and creating inclusive, welcoming environments for all.
“While we recognize that Halloween is a fun tradition for many, it is not a holiday that is celebrated by everyone for various reasons and we want to honor that.”
It continued: “We are also aware of the range of inequities that are embedded in Halloween celebrations that take place as part of the school day and the unintended negative impact that it can have on some students, families, and staff.
“As a result, we are moving away from Halloween celebrations that include costumes and similar traditions during the school day. We are confident our school communities will find new and engaging ways to build community within their schools.”
The statement concluded: “In District 65, we remain committed to equity and discontinuing current and past practices that are not in alignment with our goals.
“Our schools are special because of the people who are a part of them and our commitment to serving the educational needs of our students. Many of our schools have already moved away from the traditional Halloween activities during the school day and have scheduled Halloween or other seasonal activities outside of the school day.”
Many schools have also banned Halloween celebrations and have expressed similar concerns. North Country Elementary in California said to CBS Sacramento that the school will celebrate ‘harvest festival’ instead of Halloween.
The statement said: “We have consistently respected the right of families to choose to have their children participate, or not, in such celebrations.
“However, when the number of students choosing to not participate becomes significant, it is incumbent on the school leadership to re-evaluate and determine if the event is truly meeting the social and academic needs of its student population.”
Boyden Elementary School in Massachusetts also canceled the celebration for not being ‘inclusive enough.
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Replaced!