Just saw on Fox there is a certain school district in the Seattle area that won't let the kids dress up for halloween because...........................
the don't want to offend "REAL WITCHES". They said it is INSENSITIVE for kids to dress like witches. But they interviewed a "real witch" and she said she thinks the kids should dress up, it's fun and amusing.
This is getting filed in the WTF? category for sure.
School Afraid Of Offending Real Witches Cancels Halloween
POSTED: 12:46 pm EDT October 21, 2004 UPDATED: 7:59 am EDT October 22, 2004 PUYALLUP, Wash. -- There will be no Halloween parties at one school district in Washington state. SURVEY Should schools cancel Halloween parties so as not to offend people who practice the Wiccan and Pagan religions? Yes. It may offend Pagans and Wiccans. No. But they should be canceled for other reasons. No. Let students celebrate Halloween.
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Puyallup School District spokeswoman Karen Hansen said school officials have been reviewing the Halloween tradition and decided that time could be better spent.
According to a Seattle TV station, Hanson said there were three reasons that the parties will be canceled. The first reason was that Halloween parties and parades waste valuable classroom time. The second reason was that some families can't afford costumes. The third reason is that it may offend real witches.
She said schools have had complaints from followers of the Wiccan religion who are offended at the way Halloween is celebrated. Hansen said schools are teaching students to be respectful and take account of the discomfort felt by others.
Hanson said members of the Wiccan religion did not ask the school district to cancel the Halloween events. But she said they have expressed displeasure with such images as witches with pointy noses and witches flying on broomsticks.
She said that witches with pointy noses are not "respective symbols of the Wiccan religion" and that their district wants to be respectful of that.
Any students who show up in a costume might be sent home.
The school district has the following reminder on its Web site:
HALLOWEEN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Remember, Halloween masks, makeup and costumes ARE NOT ALLOWED at any time on campus.
The decision has angered many parents. Some plan to protest at a school board meeting this Monday. The mother of one second-grader says she has one very disappointed little girl. Tonya Reynolds said everyone is so worried about being "politically correct."
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www.wnbc.com/education/3839571/detail.html