Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood cancelled all Halloween activities at school. The reason: 20 percent of its students wouldn't participate. Wast that the right decision?
MAPLEWOOD -- To celebrate, or not to celebrate?
That was the hotly debated Halloween question Tuesday as NJ.com readers reacted to news that a New Jersey elementary school has decided not to celebrate the holiday in school this year. Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood cited the school's diverse population as the reason behind its decision.
READ: School nixes Halloween celebration, cites diversity
"In the past, in-school celebrations of Halloween have made many of our students feel left out...(and as) a result, after careful consultation and deliberation, we have decided not to hold in-school Halloween activities," principal Mark Quiles and the school's PTA co-presidents announced in a letter home to parents.
NJ.com readers had passionate reactions to the decision, with the vast majority of comments against Seth Boyden's decision. Read what some NJ.com users had to say (some comments were edited for clarity); take our informal poll and continue the conversation in comments.
Tinkerbelle_13
Apparently these parents are not against Halloween - they just don't participate. However, Halloween is a cultural phenomenon in the USA. In fact, here is a great article about the history of Halloween
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween - it is a blending of cultural beliefs of over 2000 years. We are taught to embrace cultural experiences of other - why, then, is it "wrong" to ask others who "don't participate" to embrace Halloween? It is a completely secular holiday today, and an important part of American culture that fits so well into the magical thinking of children. Why is it "ok" for Americans to embrace and experience other cultures but it's not ok for others who may not have American roots to embrace American traditions?
Instead of encouraging all students to participate in a fun party where they dress up in costumes, we will eliminate the party in the name of "diversity". Seems to me that they just made the school less diverse. Isn't the idea of diversity to try unfamiliar things that others in your class do in order to understand other cultures, and maybe have some fun along the way?
joearch
No one is saying that the kids can't where costumes, knock on doors, and gorge themselves on candy. The principal of a single elementary school (with the backing of the most active and vocal parents) with 300 some odd kids (in a district with something like 4,000 students) has decided not to have a Halloween Parade as part of the school day.
ewrpex87
So based on this precedent, does this mean that this school will no longer celebrate Black History Month, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, Dia de la Muerte, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving? I mean, how can you celebrate Thanksgiving when you might have vegans represented in your school?
If the precedent is cancel for all when some don't participate, then by stating you want diversity you must therefore conclude that no events are permitted as you will not have 100% inclusion.
SimplyD
I'm also of Italian descent, 1st generation. I am not understanding which of the nationalities do not celebrate Halloween and why it's offensive to them....all it is are kids dressed up getting free candy and being made a fuss over by adults.... Why do all of these high powered people look at things so stupidly? They need to use common sense and stop acting so "politically correct", they're ruining the country, as we know it!! I'm 50 and I remember my costumes going through the lower grades of Catholic school...grow up and let kids be kids!!!!
Dooberstien
Assimilation, people. This isn't religion, this is as American as it gets. THIS is something people from different backgrounds used to get on the same page for, this helps bring us together, this helps make us more American. Our immigrants need to be like those from previous generations: the adults can stay "other", but they need to tell their kids "WE may not be full American's, but YOU ARE".
My daughter is at a new school this year, having moved up from another one in the exact same town (not in Maplewood, but another Central NJ community which is very diverse). Old school had a Halloween parade and Halloween classroom parties as well as other Halloween activities. New school announced they don't celebrate "Halloween" due to diversity issues but will have an "fall festival."
As far as I know, the demographics of the school are the same, we are the same district, we are 1.5 miles away from old school and in fact most of the same kids came with us to the next grade.
I think sometimes administration takes it upon themselves to make decisions they prefer personally and then they spin the numbers a bit to make their politically correct world seem more fair and equitable. If you complain, you are closed minded.
Honestly, I don't have an issue with the school being more inclusive and even celebrating other cultural holidays (Diwali, for example) but if the majority of the children celebrate and/or their parents are willing to let them celebrate Halloween, why take that joy away?
I'd question that 20% number the principal is citing in Maplewood. That seems an unreasonably high number of children who don't celebrate or are opting out of Halloween. Could be more likely that the squeaky wheel gets the grease?
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.