DEI officials in New Jersey school district cancel all Halloween celebrations

[Merrill]

The "Assistant Superintendent of Access and Equity" (wonder how much this job pays) has deemed such celebrations as racist and classicist, and has ordered them cancelled

New Jersey school district cancels Halloween-themed events

School officials say they believe ending Halloween celebrations will build equity and foster inclusion.

www.cbsnews.com

the insanity won't stop, unless parents start pushing back

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The "Assistant Superintendent of Access and Equity" (wonder how much this job pays) has deemed such celebrations as racist and classicist, and has ordered them cancelled

New Jersey school district cancels Halloween-themed events

School officials say they believe ending Halloween celebrations will build equity and foster inclusion.

www.cbsnews.com

the insanity won't stop, unless parents start pushing back

........ who be these particularly "authorized" individuals who have so declared? What's their personal ideology?

[The article doesn't say...]

 

[dzheremi]

"Pushing back"? When I was kid, it was the more fundamentalist types of Christians who wanted to cancel Halloween. I guess they might still not be happy at this, since it appears to be politics behind the cancellation instead of Jesus, but results are results.

 

[PloverWing]

Here's a link that gives more detail on the reasoning behind the decision: School district in New Jersey suspends Halloween activities during school hours

According to the article, one of the elementary schools in the district had already made a switch from "Halloween" to a "fall festival", because of the high absentee rate on Halloween:

From the 6ABC-Philadelphia article:

Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood stopped having Halloween celebrations in 2015 and began having fall festivals instead.

"In 2015 there were about 80 or 90 students that couldn't participate, and we had a high absenteeism rate on Halloween," said Shannon Glander, principal of Seth Boyden Elementary School. "Students come, they pick pumpkins, they decorate pumpkins. (The fall festival) is a just great time for the families to get together and celebrate the fall, and our community."

The article lists two factors at play. One is the cost of costumes, which can be a hardship for some families. The other, more significant, is that (as @dzheremi mentioned) some people have religious reasons for not celebrating Halloween. We see this on CF each year, with the annual crop of postings that say Christians shouldn't celebrate Halloween.

From the 6ABC-Philadelphia article:

"We have some within our communities that either have cultural or religious reservations as it pertains to Halloween," said Dr. Kevin Gilbert, assistant superintendent of access and equity. "By having school-sponsored Halloween events, are we pushing a group of our families and our students to have to makes decisions that may be counter to their belief system?"

So, before attacking the school district for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion, be aware that the school district is trying to be inclusive OF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

The article lists two factors at play. One is the cost of costumes, which can be a hardship for some families. The other, more significant, is that some people have religious reasons for not celebrating Halloween. We see this on CF each year, with the annual crop of postings that say Christians shouldn't celebrate Halloween.

So, before attacking the school district for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion, be aware that the school district is trying to be inclusive OF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS.

Oh? So it is not something we can blame on "woke" ?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The "Assistant Superintendent of Access and Equity" (wonder how much this job pays) has deemed such celebrations as racist and classicist, and has ordered them cancelled

New Jersey school district cancels Halloween-themed events

School officials say they believe ending Halloween celebrations will build equity and foster inclusion.

www.cbsnews.com

the insanity won't stop, unless parents start pushing back

Ah-ha! ............... it was this guy. He's the "Halloween Grinch!!!"

Superintendent cancels Halloween, bans costumes in school citing DEI and potential harm to students' 'dignity'

A New Jersey school district banned students from dressing in costumes in celebration of Halloween during school hours, citing diversity, equity and inclusion.

www.foxnews.com

Office of the Superintendent

Office of the Superintendent

www.somsd.k12.nj.us

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Here's a link that gives more detail on the reasoning behind the decision: School district in New Jersey suspends Halloween activities during school hours

According to the article, one of the elementary schools in the district had already made a switch from "Halloween" to a "fall festival", because of the high absentee rate on Halloween:

From the 6ABC-Philadelphia article:


The article lists two factors at play. One is the cost of costumes, which can be a hardship for some families. The other, more significant, is that (as @dzheremi mentioned) some people have religious reasons for not celebrating Halloween. We see this on CF each year, with the annual crop of postings that say Christians shouldn't celebrate Halloween.

From the 6ABC-Philadelphia article:


So, before attacking the school district for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion, be aware that the school district is trying to be inclusive OF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS.

ah.... you beat me to it! Lol!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Oh? So it is not something we can blame on "woke" ?

Shucks!!!!!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

It is in there, you just have to look harder.

I guess we'll just have to realize that U.S. Halloween is thoroughly capitalist in nature and must be called down for that inequality factor.

I mean: WHO KNEW?!!!!!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Or "what is the belief" by those who want to celebrate Halloween?

I want to celebrate Halloween! But I guess wearing face-paint, or bobbing for apples, or playing spooky board games, or trick-or-treating and whatnot--- and doing so on October 31st --- is too pagan for some folks.

As if some made up day has to be "observed" dogmatically the way that various Satanists, Wiccans, Druids, or other Celtic Leftovers might do.

I could be wrong, but it almost seems like some folks are superstitious and somehow think that Jesus isn't Lord 365 days a year. "No," apparently and according to them, Satan has one day each year all wrapped up in good measure for himself, with a pretty orange bow on top, and to be festive on that day is.............................. to worship him. (little h)

Somehow, I think Paul the Apostle would disagree with the meaning of the Calendar that Americans on both sides of its politics seem to insist it absolutely "has."

Now, in which closet did I stash my Ghost Rider costume ...

 

[2PhiloVoid]

This article has an interesting take on it:

Here’s what witches actually do on Halloween (and beyond)

As Halloween approaches, many of you will be grabbing your costumes, and perhaps you’re going for the classic witch look. At present, it’s easy to procure not only a “costume,” but a whole witchy wardrobe. Alternative clothing companies make it easy to wear witchcraft literally on your sleeve...

www.altpress.com

I already know the kinds of things some witches and/or wiccans "do." That doesn't mean anyone else "has" to do what they do; especially not for the same reasons.

Notice, too, that when I speak of "spooky board-games," I'm thinking of something more like the boardgame "Horrified" rather than some mamby-pampy waste of time like a oujia board.

It's important to know a person's referrent when they give a general term like "spooky board-game."

 

[2PhiloVoid]

An account from a former Witch:

Ex-witch shares how she left the occult for Christ, why Halloween is ‘Satan’s playground’

Outspoken Christian and ex-witch Jenny Weaver said before she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, she spent nine years of her life practicing witchcraft, abusing drugs and obeying the whispering

www.christianpost.com

Yes, yes. I've come across her and other former witches or occultists. Forgive me, but I don't "believe" in the "power" of witchcraft. I do believe in the power of drug use, which this young lady also was apparently caught up in. I think that is the greater factor of detriment involved in her case. The teaching of Wiccans is, otherwise, simply delusive. So: drug use + delusion. Bad mix.

I think witchcrafte is all (mainly) hoked up and always has been---the Witch of Endor being little exception.

So, if I want to COMMANDEER Halloween as an existential Christian and celebrate the day in a more hygienic, fictional way---- maybe even using it as a time to mock (and defy) the Dark ----then I'm free to do so.

If other Christians want to decide to refrain, they're also free to do so. ... truth is, about all I actually do on Halloween is watch a movie like the Nightmare Before Christmas and .............................. eat a cookie.

 

[Merrill]

Here's a link that gives more detail on the reasoning behind the decision: School district in New Jersey suspends Halloween activities during school hours

According to the article, one of the elementary schools in the district had already made a switch from "Halloween" to a "fall festival", because of the high absentee rate on Halloween:

From the 6ABC-Philadelphia article:


The article lists two factors at play. One is the cost of costumes, which can be a hardship for some families. The other, more significant, is that (as @dzheremi mentioned) some people have religious reasons for not celebrating Halloween. We see this on CF each year, with the annual crop of postings that say Christians shouldn't celebrate Halloween.

From the 6ABC-Philadelphia article:


So, before attacking the school district for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion, be aware that the school district is trying to be inclusive OF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS.

yeah, I'm sure DEI officials are implementing these policies to appease conservative Christians lol. The officials clearly stated that Halloween "violate the dignity of some of our students and families, either culturally or religiously? Does the promotion of school-sponsored Halloween activities create tensions with the equity"

so never mind the left-wing talking points and buzz-words --they were trying to help Christians!

I'd like you to show me the fundamentalist Christians living in inner-city Newark who have banded together to stop Halloween.

Pretty sure those are NOT the people (they don't even exist in that city) who are calling for this action

very lame gaslighting attempt there dude

 

[PloverWing]

yeah, I'm sure DEI officials are implementing these policies to appease conservative Christians lol. The officials clearly stated that Halloween "violate the dignity of some of our students and families, either culturally or religiously? Does the promotion of school-sponsored Halloween activities create tensions with the equity"

so never mind the left-wing talking points and buzz-words --they were trying to help Christians!

I'd like you to show me the fundamentalist Christians living in inner-city Newark who have banded together to stop Halloween.

Pretty sure those are NOT the people (they don't even exist in that city) who are calling for this action

very lame gaslighting attempt there dude

1) The school district in question, according to the 6abc-Philadelphia article, is South Orange and Maplewood. These towns are near Newark, but they're separate from Newark, and I'm pretty sure they're in a separate school district. (I'll accept correction on this if you have better knowledge of the school district boundaries in North Jersey. I live at the other end of the state.)

2) We do have churches here in New Jersey that describe themselves as "Fundamentalist" -- as in, that word is on the sign out in front of the church. It's the first place I've ever lived where that was the case. We're actually a pretty diverse state.

3) The statement from the school district says that they're trying to be sensitive to those who don't observe Halloween on religious grounds. Who do you think they're talking about, if not conservative Protestant Christians?

 

[Merrill]

1) The school district in question, according to the 6abc-Philadelphia article, is South Orange and Maplewood. These towns are near Newark, but they're separate from Newark, and I'm pretty sure they're in a separate school district. (I'll accept correction on this if you have better knowledge of the school district boundaries in North Jersey. I live at the other end of the state.)

2) We do have churches here in New Jersey that describe themselves as "Fundamentalist" -- as in, that word is on the sign out in front of the church. It's the first place I've ever lived where that was the case. We're actually a pretty diverse state.

3) The statement from the school district says that they're trying to be sensitive to those who don't observe Halloween on religious grounds. Who do you think they're talking about, if not conservative Protestant Christians?

So what, 1-2% of the students come from fundamentalist Christian backgrounds? And how many of their parents complained about kids in Indian costumes?

the district is creating a lame cover-story for what is clearly an agenda by the DEI officials. Halloween costumes and parties were never an issue before far-left activists started making policy in that school district

 

[2PhiloVoid]

So what, 1-2% of the students come from fundamentalist Christian backgrounds? And how many of their parents complained about kids in Indian costumes?

the district is creating a lame cover-story for what is clearly an agenda by the DEI officials. Halloween costumes and parties were never an issue before far-left activists started making policy in that school district

One would think the Wiccans, Satanists or other related groups, or just plain Liberals who want to party hardy, would gripe about folks on the Left dousing their Halloween ventures?

 

[dzheremi]

yeah, I'm sure DEI officials are implementing these policies to appease conservative Christians lol. The officials clearly stated that Halloween "violate the dignity of some of our students and families, either culturally or religiously? Does the promotion of school-sponsored Halloween activities create tensions with the equity"

so never mind the left-wing talking points and buzz-words --they were trying to help Christians!

I don't think you need to posit a direct connection (even though the statement does mention religious objections, so I don't know why that couldn't include conservative Christians, just like it could include anyone who might have a religious objection to Halloween) to recognize that this is a situation where the ultimate goal of the DEI people and fundamentalist Christians is the same (to get rid of Halloween celebrations), even if they arrive at it via different routes.

This sort of thing happens all the time, and this particular situation is far from the most outrageous or anger-worthy that I could think of. It could be argued that this is just a microcosm of what happens between nations at a much higher level of realpolitik alliance-building, as when the USA supports Saudi Arabia in doing pretty much anything it does (as has been happening for decades, despite the two countries having diametrically-opposed philosophies regarding personal freedoms like freedom of religion or allowing women to do things for themselves without the approval of male guardians).

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Diversity is the codeword for canceling of traditions brought by white people.

Christmas has turned secular in our society, but calls for replacing the name for "holiday,"
is being pushed by the left every year.

My town celebrates solstice and Wiccan days more than the 4th of July or Christmas as
a Christian event.

 

[dzheremi]

Christmas has turned secular in our society, but calls for replacing the name for "holiday,"
is being pushed by the left every year.

Who is trying to replace the word "Christmas" with "holiday"? That "Happy holidays" thing is supposedly a way to recognize that not everyone celebrates Christmas, since not everyone is Christian, but I'm not aware of anyone (left, right, center, or anywhere) who is trying to get anyone to not use the word "Christmas" to refer to Christmas. It's not like "holidays" is becoming the 'new name' for Christmas or something, so I don't think your assertion is accurate.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Who is trying to replace the word "Christmas" with "holiday"? That "Happy holidays" thing is supposedly a way to recognize that not everyone celebrates Christmas, since not everyone is Christian, but I'm not aware of anyone (left, right, center, or anywhere) who is trying to get anyone to not use the word "Christmas" to refer to Christmas. It's not like "holidays" is becoming the 'new name' for Christmas or something, so I don't think your assertion is accurate.

People in my home town and in my state of MA. Calls for calling Christmas Holidays, is mandated in some retail businesses and
Walmart previously had cashiers only wish people Happy Holidays. Now they say Merry Christmas, until after December 25th.


I don't care that some people don't celebrate Christmas.

Fact is, Jesus is the reason for the season. If not for the coming of Christ, Christmas would be unheard of.