Halloween is on Monday. Halloween is a day that many people look forward to, I know for me it was always a benchmark of when we're halfway to Christmas. It was also a time to have some fun. I'd like to bring attention to the decision by two Calgary schools to ban scary costumes. They want the kids to wear "caring" costumes.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/26 ... -halloween-costumes/"Michelle Speight, who serves as principal for both inner city schools, said the move is designed to accommodate all children, including those with cultural backgrounds that don’t celebrate Halloween. It’s also an attempt by staff to prevent students from wearing costumes inappropriate for young children."
"[A]ccomdate all children, including those with cultural backgrounds that don't celebrate Halloween." Canada's supposed to be a multi-cultural country, if we're limiting what people can do isn't that against what multiculturalism is about? Oh and to "prevent students from wearing costumes inappropriate for young children," who cares. I went to a public K-6 school and there were no restrictions as to what could be worn providing you didn't bring any weapons (swords and guns primarily). Some kids well into the K-6 range are scared of clowns, does that mean being a clown isn't an option?
What's too far in your view? A ghost? A grim reaper with a scythe? How about a grim reaper with a bloody scythe? Or what about a zombie with an axe through your skull? What about a homosexual person? What about a Nazi? What about a KKK member? According to these schools all of these would be too scary or not "politically correct" since that's what everyone is so jumpy about these days. Where would you draw the line?
The point here is that some people are trying to change long lasting traditions that have lasted for decades. What's next, no acknowledgement of Christmas and instead just having a generic winter break that straddles the new year? Or maybe not acknowledging Remembrance Day (November 11th,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day) because it has to deal with war and may be unsettling for some people?
I know that people reading this will think this is a bit absurd that something like this can happen in a school, I do too, but it's setting a precedent for what may happen in the future. We need to ask ourselves how far is far enough and when this endless obsession with political correctness will stop.
)
