Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Boot camp


note:
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ "MY RANT" POST, READ THAT ONE BEFORE READING THIS POST (it will make much more sense)
I'm very glad to know that I'm not the only one who thinks it's ridiculous not to dress up for Halloween at school! What is the safety issue? I would love to know! The only thing I can come up with is that parents often dress up for the parade as well, which means you could have some creeps show up in cognito. That's the reason I think they should bag the parade, not the costumes!

Oh, at one time I also heard the excuse that it was because there wasn't enough room in the halls for all the parents and kids. Again. I say, then get rid of the parade.

But I do want to be a bit more clear about my "rant". I don't believe the PTA had anything to do with the fact that we are not doing costumes and the like at school.
Maybe we should just change the name of our school to Grin And Bear it Elementary.
..
U

12 comments:

Cami said...

Brandi-I love that you vocalize the problems we are having in our area. I thought that I was the only one feeling that way! Once again you hit the nail on the head! Thanks for sharing and letting me know I'm not alone on this particular issue.

Shill and Company said...

That really stinks! Now I finally understand why we needed to move all of those years ago. This was coming and we needed to attend a school where our children could participate in one of their very favorite holidays! j/k

I am sad to hear that they can't even just have a party in their classrooms. Our school doesn't do a parade, but in the afternoon the kids are allowed to dress up for their parties. Our schools only rules are no masks or weapons.

I too have the most fond memories of dressing up for Halloween. I am really sorry to hear about your school.

Cindy said...

I was taking to Wanda about this and she said the "safety" issue is that at another school (last year I think)a child was taken from the school during the parade by their non-custodial parent. They said it is too confusing to have all the adults there with the kids and someone could easily walk off with a kid unnoticed. If that isn't right please someone correct me. I can understand that but seriously how common would that be. How many years have they done it and had no problems. I still think it is sad that they miss out on this.

Brandi said...

Yes, that's the story I heard too, but like I said, then lets skip the parade. And lets not alow parents to dress up. I think the grown ups can handle not dressing up. Don't you?

Cindy said...

I agree Brandi. I cannot see any reason why the kids can't wear their costumes for at least part of the day and have a Halloween party at school. If they want to skip the parade I have no problem with that.

I'm so new to this school thing. What would be the best thing to do? Do we complain now so that maybe it will be different for next year. Or wait till next year. I'm sure we're not the only parents upset about this. But, if no one says anything they they will think everyone's fine with it.

Zobell Fam said...

Hello ladies...Brandi I appreciate you not blaming PTA. The decision was a vote made by staff, Comunity council and PTA. I do miss the fact that they can't wear costumes, however the kids are still getting parties. There are a lot of children who don't dress up for various reasons $, don't like to ect. For this the faculty took a vote. Because the parties are held at the end of the day it is hard for kids to change into costume alone, not to mention the Kindergartners. Yes it is a sad day when halloween isn't celebrated the same way it was when we were kids, but it is a sign of the times. I PROMISE it was not our administration bulling us in any way or there way of being grinches. Hope this help.

PS Remember it is very hard in a position like this to make everyone happy :)

Brandi said...

You know, back in the day, we all brought our costumes to school. This way, you have the party after lunch (like SOME classes are doing this year) and everyone goes home in their costumes...ready for trick or treating. It's awesome! Lots of schools in the Jordan district do that as well.

I hope that next year, they will do away with the parade and carnival and let the children wear their costumes to school.

Hopefully they will let us BRING OUR COSTUMES to school. I would think it's much easier to have a normal school day when you can dress up after lunch, then be in party mode for the rest of the day.

Remember....I'm simply venting a frustration (on my blog)

Anonymous said...

Changing into costumes sounds like the end all of an answer, but try being in a school building and having 700 + students change into Halloween costumes.

Kimi said...

I am totally sad about not having costumes and a parade, some of my best memories growing up were of Halloween as well. But just because we can't dress up doesn't mean we can't have fun!

Jenny said...

Some thoughts from an elementary teacher....

the idea of having kids bring their costumes and changing after lunch is BAD (no offense). Too much work for the teachers (esp. of Kinder and 1st), too chaotic in the bathrooms, etc. Been there, done that. It isn't pleasant.

second, sadly, it is not that uncommon for a noncustodial parent to try (and sometimes but very rarely succeed) in taking a child from school. so i can actually understand the concern. but at my school parents are required to be seated in the auditorium (not in classrooms or the halls) and we walk through the halls and then through the auditorium so parents can see and then back to class. If kids are kept in a line with their teachers and parents are seated, it would be pretty hard for that to happen. But if it is a concern, then you could do without the parade. As I mentioned earlier, when Halloween is on a full day (not a Friday) we usually have kids take their costumes off after it's over. Somehow kids can pull thier costumes off and stuff them in the locker much easier than they can put them on.

halloween can still be fun without costumes and if the school makes that decision then I would just make sure my kids had other opportunities to wear their costumes... obviously trick or treating, but maybe go to boo at the zoo or red butte garden's halloween activities or do a neighborhood trunk or treat or whatever.

if you are hoping to change it for next year (which may or may not be possible) i would bring the issue up now. that's my opinion, but my experience is that it is easier to change things way in advance than just a short time before.

while i too have fond memories of dressing up as a kid, they certainly aren't my ONLY fond memories. there are lots of other things that can be fun and engaging and memorable and educational.

whew! that was a long comment. hope it is helpful.

Brandi said...

OK, this is the final thing I'm going to say about this (I hope)

I am aware that fun can still be had without costumes, and I'm sure that for the most part, school will be fun for the kids that day.

I guess in the end, if they choose to not dress up for school (next year, because it's way too late to change anything this year), we are letting a few stupid people have the power to ruin a fun tradition.

Does that seem fair? I don't think so.

Kimi said...

Just FYI it is not a few people who decided. The facutly took a vote, and voted no (and most did for the fact that changing costumes really isn't as easy as it sounds), the PTA took a vote and voted no (or majority voted no), the community council took a vote and majority ruled as a no as well, and the district really pushes for a big NO! And unfortunately it really isn't uncommon to not have Halloween costumes at schools anymore. Most of the schools I have worked in, student taught in, or know teachers who work in schools don't dress up any more, we were one of the few last year that I know of who got to dress up.
But if you want to see it changed for upcoming years I would start now, going to PTA meetings would be the first place I would start.