Officials have cancelled the hour-long Halloween parties traditionally thrown in Puyallup schools, reports the Associated Press. They cite the loss of class time and fear of offending Wiccans with stereotyped witch costumes (black hats, blond straw hair, warts, broomsticks, the like.)
The Puyallup school district’s decision is a ridiculous case of excessive political correctness.
First, missing one hour of class time isn’t going to significantly impact the education of children. Since parties have been cancelled, the children may be glum, distracted and sullen anyway.
Besides, “Many schools in Puyallup and elsewhere have already changed to seasonal ‘harvest festivals.’” While officials justify the end of Halloween festivities by citing missing class time, they’re throwing “harvest festivals” at the same time.
Second, if the district wants to avoid stereotypes of witches, it could ban witch costumes from school Halloween parties. Instead, officials have cancelled all the festivities, disappointing schoolchildren and making themselves look like strict, mean, fun-sucking Halloween haters.
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