Halloween is more trick and less treat for children as more schools forgo traditional holiday parties.
Instead of costumes and candy, think plowshares and pumpkins.
Seasonal celebrations, such as fall festivals, are replacing Halloween parties in some Toledo-area schools, a switch that is more bothersome than bewitching to those who treasure tradition.
Gone are ghosts and goblins gobbling goodies in those classrooms.
“Absolutely, we are seeing a trend,” said Kathy LaSota, director of school board services for the Ohio School Boards Association.
During her extensive travels across Ohio, she’s observed changes in the way schools celebrate Halloween as well as other holidays, including Christmas.
Revisions occur as districts consider traditions, cultures, and philosophies in their communities, she said.
Halloween alternatives are being heralded as education-based, time-on-task events with hands-on activities such as candle making and squash-seed counting. But when compared to Halloween parties, autumn-themed events might be viewed, at least by some children, as a way to masquerade the usual school day.
In Sylvania, some schools have moved the costume portion of the holiday celebration to after-school parties sponsored by parent organizations.
Evening dances, fun nights, and a night when kids can wear their costumes provide parents with a variety of options, depending on how, or if, they want their children to celebrate Halloween, said district spokesman Nancy Crandell.
Last week, Sylvan Elementary had its Halloween Night, Whiteford Elementary held a Monster Mash, Highland Elementary a Fall Festival, and Hill View Elementary a Halloween dance. Such events take the place of in-school costume parties.
Just across the Michigan line at Bedford Schools’ Douglas Road Elementary, no Halloween activities will take place during the school day. Something new, a Harvest Day, will be held Monday instead.
The change has scared up mixed reactions.
Lambertville resident Mike Wesolowski, whose daughters attend the school, said he and other parents, angered by the pirating of childhood customs, unsuccessfully tried to “save Halloween.”
Although not allowed at school, costumes could be worn by students during a miniature-golf family outing last Friday. Teachers and other staff members, who volunteered their time, passed out candy to the golfers.
Charging families an admission fee didn’t sit well with parents who were already upset, Mr. Wesolowski said. An evening Halloween event was welcomed by parents who work during school hours, said Principal Carol Perz, but other moms and dads expressed disappointment in the tradition revision.
The decision was made for several reasons, she said, including food allergies. During an evening event parents can monitor treats their children receive or even whether it would be better to not participate, she said.
Other reasons: Children who come to school without costumes feel left out, some families do not believe in celebrating Halloween, and staff members were concerned about the amount of instruction time lost to snow days as well as to Halloween costumes and parties.
Mr. Wesolowski called the reasons unreasonable and said steps could be taken to minimize any perceived problems. He asked, for instance, why the school couldn’t address allergy issues by providing parents with a list of foods that could be brought to a Halloween party.
Across Ohio, several factors are influencing the shift from traditional Halloween happenings, Mrs. LaSota said.
School districts face a bigger push for accountability and a focus on gaining constituents’ support, she said.
Districts are trying to be sensitive to the diversity of cultures and traditions, and as a result, “Halloween is becoming a fall festival,” she said.
This isn’t a trend that popped up suddenly like a skeleton in a haunted house.
Rather, Halloween has been creeping out of the classrooms for a few years. “It has been evolving. More school districts are getting more savvy,” Mrs. LaSota said.
Districts too, are dealing with the high demand for “time on task” in the classrooms, she said. Halloween alternatives, such as harvest days, provide opportunities for teachers to incorporate fun into the curriculum, she said.
In Maumee Schools, two of three elementary schools will mark the holiday with costume parades and classroom parties.
All four of Maumee’s elementary schools traditionally celebrated Halloween, but that changed this year in the wake of redistricting. Some parents were concerned about how they could attend their children’s parties if they were held at the same time as other schools attended by siblings, said Nancy Sayre, district spokesman. To prevent a conflict, Wayne Trail on Thursday will have a fall festival highlighted by a hay ride, crafts, and educational lessons about local history, she said.
In Toledo Public Schools, some classes combine seasonal-themed days and Halloween, and some schools will hold traditional neighborhood parades featuring children in costumes, said TPS spokesman Patty Mazur, noting schools are encouraging families to provide healthful treats rather than sugary sweets. One is Arlington Elementary, where snack requests include cheese and crackers, fruit, and pretzels.
At Hawkins Elementary, no Halloween activities are slated during school time; rather, a fall family festival was held Friday night. At the Old West End Academy, a teacher has planned a harvest party with activities connected to the curriculum. Students will measure sizes of apples and gourds, for example, and will discuss ingredients in pumpkin pie.
Contact Janet Romaker at: jromaker@theblade.com or 419-724-6006.
First Published October 31, 2011, 4:30 a.m.
