War on Halloween: Parents Livid After School Cancels Halloween Parade to be ‘Inclusive’
Cassandra Fairbanks
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Angry parents are speaking out after Boyden Elementary School in Walpole, Massachusetts, announced that they were canceling their annual Halloween costume parade to respect students whose cultures do not allow them to participate.
The school principal claims that the American tradition is “not inclusive” and since some students won’t participate and have a good time — nobody should be allowed to.
“That’s the part that especially the parents and the students are having a hard time understanding,” Julie Lowre, a parent, told Fox 25 Boston. “We have numerous events not all-inclusive, so if you cancel one event you have to cancel them all.”
In a message to parents, school principal Brendan Dearborn wrote that “the costume parade is out of our ordinary routine and can be difficult for many students. Also, the parade is not inclusive of all the students and it is our goal each and every day to ensure all student’s individual differences are respected.”
Instead, the school will hold a “Black and Orange” spirit day and students can attend a Halloween themed pasta dinner after school if they choose.
Parents are blaming political correctness for destroying the fun of the holiday for children.
“I think it’s a lot of political correctness,” a Walpole woman told CBS Boston. “I think it’s a shame because Halloween is the funnest day of the year next to Christmas for children.”
A grandmother of students at the school is also upset that the parade has been canceled and hopes that the Boyden administration will reconsider.
“We have grand-kids going to Boyden School. Wonderful school,” a grandmother of a student told CBS. “The Halloween party should happen on Friday cause all the kids are excited.”
Likewise, another Walpole man told the outlet that he believes the school should allow the students to have their fun — and expressed dismay that the event has been politicized.
“Put a costume on. Parade down the street. Let them have their little time,” a Walpole man said. “Why do you have to turn it into something political?”
Big League Politics has reached out to the superintendent’s office for comment but did not receive a response by time of publishing.
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