Should Schools Celebrate Halloween?

On October 31, you won’t find zombies or superheroes roaming the halls in public elementary schools in East Lansing, Michigan. The district stopped allowing in-school Halloween parties last year. 

“Some students did not celebrate Halloween and instead stayed home from school,” explains superintendent Dori Leyko. “The district has really been focusing on providing inclusive activities for all students.”  

But some people say schools should celebrate Halloween just as they do many other popular holidays. They argue that dressing up in costumes gives kids a fun break from the usual school day and allows them to show off their creativity. 

I like seeing everyone dressed up for Halloween at school. Wearing costumes lets kids show their personalities, especially kids who wear a uniform like I do. It also gives kids a chance to wear their costumes more than once. I don’t think there’s any harm in wearing costumes in class as long as they’re not too scary. 

Learning doesn’t need to stop on Halloween. Some teachers come up with creative math and writing activities that connect with the holiday. 

Some kids don’t celebrate Halloween because of religious or cultural reasons. They could feel excluded. How would you feel if your class was having a party and you couldn’t participate? Kids who do celebrate Halloween but don’t bring in costumes might also feel left out.

My school used to have a Halloween parade. Somebody wore a scary costume that made people uncomfortable. Students should have fun at school celebrations, not feel stressed out.