Pennsylvania school district cancels Halloween parades over safety, inclusivity concerns

BALA CYNWYD, Pa. — One Pennsylvania college district is canceling its annual Halloween parades at its elementary colleges over security and inclusivity issues.

The Decrease Merion College District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania has been holding these parades for greater than 50 years.

Nevertheless, college directors despatched out letters to households in any respect six of its elementary colleges final week saying the parades is not going to occur this 12 months.

Some mother and father are upset over the choice, whereas others are relieved.

“They’re nice. They’re enjoyable, and it is the anticipation. … All people talks concerning the costumes that they are going to put on,” mentioned Linda Joseph, a guardian within the college district.

She mentioned she has fond reminiscences of watching her older children within the parades, and he or she’s upset her youngest will not have the identical likelihood.

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“I really feel prefer it’s simply crossing the road, and the place does it finish? So, subsequent individuals are going to be offended by pumpkins? So we will take away pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns or pumpkin carving?” requested Joseph.

The district mentioned security is the primary concern. The parades are outdoors, and the district cannot management or display screen who involves them.

“We proceed to reevaluate. We proceed to work with native regulation enforcement and county specialists about what’s finest,” mentioned Amy Buckman, the director of faculty and neighborhood relations for the district.

Buckman mentioned the opposite situation shouldn’t be everybody celebrates Halloween, and people children have needed to sit within the library up to now in the course of the parades.

“We checked out all of that and we mentioned, ‘Are the parades actually that essential to the scholars?’ And the reply we got here up with shouldn’t be actually,” she mentioned.

“There’s hazard in each potential venue in each potential manner. So what are you going to do? Cancel every little thing? I do not know,” mentioned guardian Rachel Gutman.

Some mother and father are upset, saying the parades are nothing greater than a enjoyable exercise for the children. Others, nonetheless, assume the district made the best name.

“I believe it is extra inclusive that there is not a Halloween parade. I completely perceive the place the district is coming from when it comes to the kids’s security and the truth that many mother and father cannot attend the parade,” mentioned guardian Amanda Hershon.

The district mentioned children will nonetheless have the ability to costume up on Halloween. As an alternative of a parade, there will probably be fall-themed actions within the classroom.