Halloweenies

Halloween may be over but the controversy over the holiday still lingers especially in the hearts and minds of the political correctness crowd.

For most of this century it has been customary in elementary schools to hold Halloween parties where children wore their costumes and everyone had some punch and candy. In the last decade or so this custom has been gradually dismantled as some parents and weak kneed administrators decided that Halloween was politically incorrect.

Without getting into the debate about whether or not the holiday is too religious or supports the occult let me just give some examples of how far things have gone.

At Red Hawk Ridge Elementary School in Centennial, Colorado the order was “No costumes, No parade, No Halloween.” If someone dares to wear a costume it will be “neutralized.” In the age of Star Trek and Star Wars being neutralized can be pretty scary to a 6 year old.

Last year in Puyallup, Washington the entire school district banned Halloween observances because the parties and parades waste valuable classroom time, some families can’t afford costumes and that children dressed in Halloween costumes might be offensive to real witches!

In California at Los Altos Elementary School teachers may still teach about Halloween but should give students alternatives to drawing witches, ghosts or skeletons. How about everyone drawing angels? That’s a nice alternative. Never fear though, thanks to the winds of political correctness that would be too religious and likewise banned.

Finally in Newton, Mass the principal of Underwood elementary cancelled Halloween celebrations after a minority of parents complained. Instead they will have a fall celebration where staff members will be able to dress up like some of their favorite literary characters. Now that will be a real treat.

Next we will be banning the sale of all scary costumes and decorations so as not to offend anyone. Just wait and see.

Don Irvine is the chairman of Accuracy in Media, Accuracy in Academia’s parent group.