No Costumes For Kids In Newington Connecticut Schools

You won't see ghosts and goblins roaming the halls of some Connecticut schools. Newington, Connecticut elementary schools cancelled their Halloween parties over 'concerns that they exclude children whose families don’t celebrate the holiday.' Instead the schools will have 'fall- or harvest-themed' celebrations.

The Superintendent of Schools sent a letter to parents, explaining the change made after
they 'received threatening and hateful phone calls and emails from national extremist groups about Halloween costumes in school.'

• Our schools will continue to recognize holidays (including Halloween) as an important part of our students' background and traditions.

• Our schools will continue to plan a variety of fun and exciting learning experiences and activities that are engaging and teach our students about diverse cultures.

• Halloween and other holiday decorations are permitted and should represent the diversity of the community, but should avoid sending the message to students that one religion or a particular denomination is preferred over another.

• Halloween costumes do not have a place in school and cannot be worn during the school day. Given the many issues, this is more appropriate as an after school activity.

• Individual parent groups may continue to plan after school activities as they always
  have. Costumes are allowed at after school events provided individual students can easily be identified at all times (no masks completely covering the face). This is purely for security reasons.

Teachers can 'teach' about the holiday, but the school cannot 'celebrate' the holiday. Some parents are outraged, saying the schools are too politically correct. What do you think?

The Pledge of Allegiance, Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny; all gone from schools. What's next? Cancelling Thanksgiving because some kids don't eat turkey.