Annapolis (Map, News) - Anne Arundel public schools should be allowed to choose to celebrate Halloween, according to a resolution passed Monday night by the Anne Arundel County Council.

“I don’t want the regret of my children, looking back, saying they missed out on this, and I had the power to do something and didn’t,” said Anne Arundel Councilman Edward Middlebrooks, R-District 2, who sponsored a resolution calling on the School Board to support any Halloween celebration in county public schools.

Middlebrooks, who has three children in public schools, said his inspiration came after learning that several public schools, particularly those in north county, were not celebrating Halloween. Instead, fall festivals and “orange and black days” were planned.

“It’s time to start standing up and say, ‘What’s going on?’” Middlebrooks said.

“I want to make sure our children are growing up in a healthy social environment.”

During his testimony, he pointed to a story in Monday’s Examiner about Guilford Elementary School in Howard replacing the Halloween celebration with a fall festival. Students will not be permitted to wear costumes.

Anne Arundel school system officials said most schools were moving to more seasonal celebrations such as fall festivals.

“That is one of the issues that’s best left up to the individual school and community,” said Anne Arundel Board President Tricia Johnson of the council’s resolution.

“Some of the schools have elaborate parties, and some have small parties. It depends on what the community wants to do.”

Concerning costumes, Johnson said a little more leeway is given for Halloween, but costumes still had to be within reason.

“We do have dress codes, so we want to make sure there’s nothing dangerous,” she said.

Middlebrooks said some schools banned costumes for security reasons.

Halloween celebrations were a long-standing tradition and popular at Davidsonville Elementary School, said Board Member Patricia Nalley, who retired last year from a nine-year stint as the school’s principal.

This year, students and teachers will continue the tradition, but those who don’t celebrate could participate in an alternative activity, such as reading in the media center, she said.

“I think you need to be cognizant of your community,” she said. “There are some who don’t like to be celebrating Halloween.”

Middlebrooks’ resolution, which has no particular authority, passed unanimously.

A Boy Scout troop was in the crowd, and when Middlebrooks asked the troop members to stand if they approved of his resolution, the entire troop stood in support.

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com

Join the discussion and take our poll in today's examiNation Baltimore: How will your children celebrate Halloween?

Comments from Examiner Readers

8:30 AM MST on Wed., Oct. 17, 2007 re: "Council: Don�t drop Halloween"

Irony said:
Saw what? I think you're misinterpreting Christianity with Islam. Haven't seen many Christians beheading "infidels" lately.

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10:45 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 16, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Examiner Reader said:
Holloween is not being attacked by by the PC Lefties. It is the Christian Right who find it offensive. If you want to find out who the protected classes are in this country, try saying something about Christians and their irrational beliefs based on scripture. Anyone brave enough to to state that Christian faith is delusional would be burned at the stake.

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9:36 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 16, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Kelkyen said:
I'd like to point out the error of those who think the loss of Halloween is due to the non-religious or other bleeding hearts. From Wikipedia ---> Some consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith due to its origin as a Pagan "festival of the dead."

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10:11 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Examiner Reader said:
We can thank the ACLU and the bleeding hearts for this. Just look what they have done to Christmas for cryin' out loud. Total ignorance.

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10:02 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Examiner Reader said:
Watch out thanksgiving is next because it involves Religion and a bunch of white people dressed in silly outfits....

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9:37 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Dale said:
Ok this is about the most rediculous thing I've heard. Heaven forbid (oh wait, can't say that b/c it might be construed as religion) anyone be offended by anything. Halloween is a time for kids to dress up and celebrate being children, fun for families regardless of background because there is no presumption of religion. How do you not celebrate? Exactly how did they determine that less than 10% of the students celebrate the holiday? They send out surveys to 2nd graders? I live up the street and am adding this to the numerous reasons for me moving out of state, right below being taxed to death by Governor tax alot Omalley...REDICULOUS

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7:14 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Runnin' for the Back Door said:
Hmm, apple pie and apple juice at the end of the day. That's enough fiber and pectin to give more than a few of the kids the old Hershey squirts. Good idea. The bus ride home should be fun!

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7:11 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Benny said:
�I�m for anything that creates a sense of inclusion..." OK, then I will come over and slap all you PC morons upside the head. That should give you a sense of inclusion!! Less than 10% of the school population says they don't celebrate Halloween, so they cancel it. This is a perfect example of the tyranny of the minority. Who does Halloween offend? It is a secular holiday! You put on a costume, you have fun, you get some candy. What could be better than that for a kid? These PC school administrators need to get over themselves and let the kids be kids.

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5:32 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal celebrations replacing Halloween"

Teflon Leprechaun said:
This is ridiculous! If you don't want to sell Halloween, then get the hell out of this country! Halloween is not a religious holiday, it's a holiday for kids. No wonder children are shooting up schools, they are taking away everything fun like Gym, Recess, Christmas, and Halloween. So far, the terrorists have won as they're slowing causing stuck up PC yuppies to overly protect their children instead of letting them be children. This country is starting to suck real bad!!

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