Thursday's editorial comment:
Monday of course is Halloween, but at some schools it's not quite the Halloween we're used to.
Of course, at many Calgary Catholic schools, October 31st is merely known as "Black and Orange" day, which I suppose is their prerogative as Catholic schools. It's a little hypocritical, however, given that so many Catholic leaders are outraged when Christmas is referred to simply as the winter holidays.
For most public schools, though, Halloween is still Halloween, at least in name.
But at two Calgary public schools, Halloween will have a much different look this year.
At Colonel Walker and Ramsay schools Monday will instead be used as an opportunity to teach community values.
Costumes will still be permitted, but only positive, caring costumes. Anything deemed to be too frightening or violent are forbidden.
Certainly we don't want six years olds dressing up as blood-drenched axe murderers, but I hardly think kids dressing up as zombies or ninjas is counter to community values.
Look, if schools think a day of costumes and fun is a waste of a school day, then that's a point worth considering.
But if a school is going to allow Halloween in the first place, why turn it into some mushy, feel-good watered-down version?
The woman who serves as principal for both schools, said the change is also to accommodate all children, including those with cultural backgrounds that don’t celebrate Halloween.
But by that logic, though, the schools should cancel Halloween. If some kids don't dress up, it hardly matters if all the other kids are dressed as vampires or dressed as bunnies.
It all amounts to a solution in search of a problem, all driven by political correctness. Either have Halloween or don't.
No comments:
Post a Comment