Halloween is one of the most enjoyable holidays for children throughout the nation. Halloween is the one holiday that children have the opportunity to dress up and pretends to be someone/something else. It is a time for fun. It is a time for friendship. And, it is definitely a time for candy.
However, there has been a recent absurd trend that has impacted many children (and some adults) throughout our nation. It appears that there have been schools in which a child or parent has complained about Halloween as a violation of their beliefs or they simply find the holiday offensive. In a complete Politically Correct over-reaction, the schools have decided to ignore Halloween completely or simply prohibit the students from wearing appropriate costumes to school on Halloween.
Although every individual’s belief and/or opinion should be respected (even if not agreed with), an individual opinion should never immediately override the will and tradition of the greater population. The idea that in an effort to protect one child’s feelings (or more appropriately the beliefs of the parent), that a school would sacrifice the happiness of hundreds of students is simply absurd. If a particular student has a cultural, religious, or other objection to witnessing the other students participate in the commercial tradition of Halloween, then they should simply not attend school on that day.
It is sad how certain events in the year bring clear vision to the Political Correctness Absurdity that exists in modern society. Unfortunately, our children are already forced to grow up much quicker than the generations that preceded them. It makes no practical sense to eliminate from our children’s youth the full level of enjoyment that Halloween brings.
Halloween is the holiday that introduces the Fall Season. It is the one time of the year that it is truly acceptable for a child to put themselves into a self-inflicted diabetic coma. Dad’s can justify eating one piece of candy for every two that they pass out while moms look the other way as they get the antacids ready for the husband’s need later in the evening. Parents get to enjoy the night of trick or treating with their young children and store precious memories.
The unfortunate reality is that a child’s pure excitement for Halloween lasts only a few years (early part of middle-school). Therefore, why prematurely eliminate this element of enjoyment? Let the kids be kids. Let them dress up. Have fun. Be respectful. Build memories. Let the kids enjoy life and Halloween.
pumpkin photo by
Husband, father, coffee connoisseur and lover of all things hockey. At 51 I sometimes wonder have I done enough. I have been married to my best friend for 30 years. She knows all my faults and loves me anyway, As a father of “almost always” perfect boys, I am always surprised at what life has to offer. It is messy, scary, thrilling, and always fun.
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