by Len Morse

Created on: April 03, 2009   Last Updated: April 10, 2009

While public schools should respect all religious beliefs, banning Halloween parties is not necessary. Any non-lesson classroom time helps a child's social development, and Halloween parties are just as innocuous as any other supervised children's activity. It's not a religious service, it's a social gathering.

== Decision Makers ==

Ideally, a school's teachers and administration, as well as a student's parent(s) should agree not only on the child's education, but also on the child's social development. After all, most kids will spend about 12 years of their pre-college lives in school, and socialization is inevitable during that time. This may include mainstream holiday parties.

The idea of a Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) discussing the possibility of banning local school Halloween parties may sound silly, fruitless, or inevitable. However, as touchy as this subject may be to some, the reality is that the school makes the decision, since any potential activity will occur on school grounds.

Parents who want a say should be welcomed and encouraged to speak up responsibly, but school-wide decisions ultimately come from the administration. If a family's religious goals preclude Halloween-related activities, perhaps a one-day/year compromise can be reached via open minds and rational discussion.

== Socialization Equality ==

Many religions look down on Halloween, and parents who follow such religious views may forbid their kids from participating in Halloween parties. However, Halloween is celebrated in various forms all over the world, and is a mainstream holiday in the United States. Sooner or later, most children will encounter Halloween-related situations, so why not let them experience this small part of holiday socialization now?

It comes down to priorities: Have a child follow his/her family's chosen religious teachings, or allow him/her to be involved and feel included in a fun, secular, and safe holiday gathering. Both actions have good intentions, but parents must decide which is best for their child's long-term development. If religion trumps socialization every time, so be it, but that is still no reason to ban Halloween parties from the entire school.

== Party Participation ==

Food: Give each child a school-approved letter to take home, explaining the Halloween party idea. This way, parents can keep tabs on what candy and foods will be available, and can notify the school of any possible allergies or other food-related problems. This is also a good way to

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