It’s impossible to be a good person. They destroy comedy. They destroy sports. They are now ruining Halloween.
Seattle’s elementary school announced that Halloween would be canceled due to equity concerns and inclusion. Seattle Public Schools justified their decision by saying that only black men celebrate Halloween, and that all students are excluded from the festivities.
Conservative commentator Jason Rantz reported:
Benjamin Franklin Day Elementary (B.F. Day) in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood typically hosts Halloween festivities each year. They include a “Pumpkin Parade” where students wear costumes if they choose. But the school administration changed its focus to “foundational beliefs around equity for our students and families,” and, consequently, they’re canceling Halloween.
In a newsletter that was sent out to parents October 8, the school announced this. The newsletter reads:
As a school with foundational beliefs around equity for our students and families, we are moving away from our traditional ‘Pumpkin Parade’ event and requesting that students do not come to school in costumes.
It was explained in the message that this action is meant to create a more inclusive climate.
Students who are not in agreement with their financial or religious views may be excluded from halloween events. Halloween parties can be a stressful event and cause distractions for students and staff. Events of this size can cause disruptions in the school day due to noise and people. Students may feel overwhelmed, and others might experience complex feelings of isolation. It’s uncomfortable and upsetting for kids.
The idea to kill Halloween celebrations was made by the school’s Racial Equity Team, which had been pushing for this for years. Rantz was informed by a spokesperson
At B.F. Day Elementary, there have been discussions about the school’s Pumpkin Parade every year for at least the past five years. In September, the school Racial Equity team brought up the subject again. Staff input was also included in the recommendations made in the newsletter.
The spokesperson also argued that “the Pumpkin Parade marginalizes students of color who do not celebrate the holiday,” and that “these students have requested to be isolated on campus while the event took place.”
But, it’s not all lost.
The school will replace Halloween celebrations with “more inclusive and educational opportunities during the school day.” Students will be treated to events like “thematic units of study about the fall,” and will view “autumnal artwork.”
The decision to cancel Halloween seems to be motivated by the notion that poor students – who are mostly black – are unable to afford costumes. Indeed, Rantz noted that “approximately 15% of the school is considered low-income.”
As he pointed out, however, they had other options. They could have sought out donations of costumes from the local community. They raised funds to assist low-income children with costumes. A workshop was held to create costumes. Invite parents to participate. Actually, scratch that – they never even consulted with parents on this braindead idea.
You have no reason to cancel your celebration.
The notion that black students don’t celebrate Halloween is absurd on its face. Nobody believes that – including the ones saying it. These white progressives could easily have stepped in and assisted students of color if they actually cared. This is how white leftists think.
The classic progressive idea of punishing all students because they might not be able to get Halloween costumes at school is to make them feel guilty. These progressives are choosing not to lift up the children and find ways to purchase costumes for them. This tendency has shown its face in plenty of other ways in which white progressives seek to “help” black and brown people through far-left policies that do more harm than good. The city may allow trick-or-treat for children, but it is hoped that this will not change.
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