War on Halloween?

Don’t look now, but another culturewar front is developing, at least in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Inglewood Elementary School principal Orlando Taylor wrote a note including this:

Some holidays observed in the community that are considered by many to be secular (ex. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s Day) are viewed by others as having religious overtones. The district must always be mindful of the sensitivity of all the members of the community with regard to holidays and celebrations of a religious, cultural or secular nature.

And some parents were bothered:

Why deny our elementary school children this right of freedom of expression and celebration of American culture/traditions that most of us experienced in school?

Possibly because Halloween is one of those non-Christian/pagan-influenced observances that most Americans view as part of the cultural backdrop of Americana, but a minority (mostly evangelical Protestants) find bothersome to some degree.

Final decision? “(A) Fall Festival, with Halloween costumes and activities” on Friday night next weekend, plus classroom parties are okay.

I suppose the pagans can breathe easier now that their insidious movement to capture the souls of children has been spared. And corporate candy manufacturers can continue to peddle the taste for sugar. Seems like everybody can rest easier this October–even the ghosts of America past.

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