File Photo
Elementary school students play on Seth Boyden’s playground.
MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE — Seth Boyden parents may have suffered a metaphorical whiplash last week after receiving a letter Oct. 13 from Principal Mark Quiles canceling the school’s Halloween celebrations and then another letter Oct. 14 from acting Superintendent James Memoli reversing that decision.
It has been an ongoing debate in many school districts in the United States regarding whether Halloween is a suitable holiday to celebrate in the classroom. Opponents argue that Halloween is a religious holiday, with roots to paganism and Christianity, while proponents argue that, in this day and age, all religious connotations have been removed and Halloween is merely a day of fun.
Quiles took a third stance in the debate, telling parents and guardians in his letter that Halloween celebrations negatively affect the educational process and force segregation among the school’s students.
According to Quiles in his letter, Seth Boyden sees an average of 80 to 90 children opting out of the Halloween parade and other celebrations.
“Many of these children are taken to other parts of the school while Halloween celebrations occur,” Quiles wrote. “Even though they are otherwise engaged, I cannot, in good conscience, continue to sanction this type of segregation.”
According to Quiles, some parents do not to send their children to school at all that day because of this segregation, removing them entirely from the learning atmosphere. He additionally argued that devoting time to Halloween celebrations is inconsistent with school values of maintaining instructional time.
“We are all aware that our fall months are already fractured in terms of teaching time, and we believe the hours lost in celebrating Halloween, along with the distractions leading up to the actual celebrations, can be much better used,” Quiles wrote.
Quiles’ letter also acknowledged that celebrating a holiday that some members of the community do not celebrate due to cultural, ethnic or religious background is also inconsistent with the school district’s values.
The very next day, however, Memoli sent a letter to the Seth Boyden community saying that Halloween celebrations will be held at the school — at least for this year.
“We have decided to keep the Halloween tradition in place this year at Seth Boyden Elementary School, notwithstanding the letter Mr. Quiles sent home yesterday,” Memoli wrote. “The issue regarding whether or not we celebrate Halloween transcends one district school, and deserves a broader discussion.”
Memoli stated in his letter that this is a districtwide issue that should be discussed and implemented as a district. However, with Halloween just around the corner, he does not believe the district has enough time to adequately examine the issue and come to a solution.
“I appreciate the thoughtfulness that Mr. Quiles brought to the discussion about whether or not to hold Halloween celebrations this year, and the many excellent points which he raised,” Memoli wrote in the letter.
“The District Administrative Team will discuss these issues in the coming months and determine a districtwide approach to Halloween for 2015 so that sufficient notice is given to all staff and families, and so that our Halloween policy is consistent across the district,” he continued.
So, while Halloween celebrations avoided the chopping block at Seth Boyden this year, they may get the axe districtwide next year.