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PC run amok - How the Toronto School Board Sterilized Hallowe'en
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | How the Toronto school board sterilized Halloween
Posted: October 29, 2008, 3:43 PM by Rob Roberts
commentary
Comment by David Menzies
Forget about the War on Christmas. The mavens of political correctness have a new target in their crosshairs: Halloween.
A case in point: the Toronto District School Board has several “concerns” with respect to the imagery – and even the foodstuffs – associated with All Hallow’s Eve. In fact, some schools in Toronto and elsewhere now refer to Halloween as “Black and Orange Day,” fearing the H-word itself will be as potentially offensive to certain groups as Christmas may be for some non-Christians. The TDSB’s Halloween policy is outlined in its 2008 Teaching Resource for Dealing with Controversial and Sensitive Issues in Toronto District School Board Classrooms. This document, dripping with spine-tingling bureaucratese, outlines six reasons why Halloween isn’t as fun as you might think.
For instance:
1. “Halloween is a religious day of significance for Wiccans and therefore should be treated respectfully.”
According to Kurt MacIntosh, the TDSB’s supervising principal of equity and inner city, nobody knows how many students of the Wiccan faith attend Toronto schools. Nor have complaints been quantified.
2. “Peer and social/media consumer pressures target all children and their families as consumers of costumes, makeup, food products, etc. Many students and their families can feel this socio-economic marginalization keenly.”
The TDSB is on to something here. Indeed, my six-year-old son, Sean, was planning on dressing up as Iron Man this year. But since money is too tight to mention, Sean realized Dad wouldn’t be able to afford repulsor ray gloves or a pair of jet-propulsion boots. “Daddy, forget about buying me a costume this year,” Sean said the other day. “I just realized social/media consumer pressures are fueling my desire to dress-up as a superhero. I’ll stay at home on Black and Orange Day this year so that you don’t feel any socio-economic marginalization, keenly or otherwise.”
3. “The images and icons associated with consumer-oriented Halloween can come into conflict with some students’ and their families’ religious beliefs.”
Does dressing up as a zombie mock the resurrection of Christ? In any event, the TSDB’s MacIntosh notes that “tombstones, the trivialization of death, and gore” are offensive to both Christians and Muslims. Still, if a devout [fill in religion here] student was offended by Halloween celebrations – or, more accurately, if the parents of that student were offended – wouldn’t it make more sense for that pupil to stay home on Oct. 31 rather than alter Halloween celebrations for the entire student body?
4. “The food products that are marketed heavily during the Halloween period can come into conflict with students’ and their families’ dietary habits.”
Certainly this is the biggest red herring put forth by the anti-Halloween camp. Since “offensive” food products are marketed all year long, surely it is within the bailiwick of parents to control such foodstuffs. Besides, Halloween fun at our strictly peanut-free schools involves dressing up, not consuming copious quantities of conflicting candies.
5. “Some students have had first-hand traumatic experiences of violence that make talking about death, ghosts, etc., extremely alienating.”
The TDSB has no tangible evidence to support the position that a rubber werewolf mask might “alienate” or “traumatize” a child who has previously experienced violence. Are we to assume children who have experienced trauma are forever incapable of embracing make-believe fun on Halloween?
6. “Many recently arrived students in our schools share no background cultural knowledge of trick-or-treating or the commercialization of death as ‘fun.’”
Forget Halloween. Surely “recently arrived students” have no cultural knowledge of Canadian history, the lyrics to the national anthem, or for that matter, the delayed offside rule in hockey. Isn’t it incumbent upon teachers to, well, teach the kids about Canadian culture?
Halloween is all about kids from all cultures and faiths dressing up and having fun. The TDSB appears to be basing its policy paper more on phantom concerns than quantifiable complaints.
Happy Black and Orange Day, nevertheless. |
So can we stop observing ramadan, diwali, and anything else that involves religion as well? The school board as no problem with these celebrations (nor should they for that matter).
What the F is wrong with this country when we allow this to happen? |
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| dEsidEL |
sounds like Massachusetts
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| Intangible |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
So can we stop observing ramadan, diwali, and anything else that involves religion as well? The school board as no problem with these celebrations (nor should they for that matter).
What the F is wrong with this country when we allow this to happen? |
Wow... I think this is the first time ever agreeing with you.
I don't even know where to begin with this.
Halloween today has NOTHING to do with religion or 'death'
'Commercialization of death' WTF????
Worried about the children's diets??? Nut free I understand... But its candy and they are kids. If the parents are worried about their childrens diets they should teach the kids how to say 'no' or keep their kids home for the day.
“Daddy, forget about buying me a costume this year,” Sean said the other day. “I just realized social/media consumer pressures are fueling my desire to dress-up as a superhero. I’ll stay at home on Black and Orange Day this year so that you don’t feel any socio-economic marginalization, keenly or otherwise.”
No kid talks like this... this should not be in quotes. Unless the child was brainwashed...
Everything about this bothers me.
Halloween is not about celebrating anything. There is no religious tone to it. I do agree the society expects a lot of others for this day but then we should get rid Valentines day as well... |
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| Jayx1 |
| There are signs that the general public is fed up and is actually getting the courage to speak out against this crap. I notice many more business bringing back christmas themes instead of happy holidays for example. Also more and more people are starting to echo my thoughts publicly about political correctness. There is hope!! |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by Intangible
Halloween today has NOTHING to do with religion or 'death'
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What? Halloween (all hallows eve - the day of preparation for All Saints Day) is the name that the Roman Catholic church gave to the festival when they co-opted it from an earlier Celtic festival named Samhain, which was the last day of the Celtic year (based on the harvest) and was believed to be the one day where the dead could walk the earth again. Sounds like it may have something to do with religion and death to me.
That said, I think the argument that Wiccans, Christians, and Muslims are offended by Halloween is utter bull, as I've yet to meet someone who is offended by children dressed up as yoda looking for candy. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Moral Hazard
That said, I think the argument that Wiccans, Christians, and Muslims are offended by Halloween is utter bull, as I've yet to meet someone who is offended by children dressed up as yoda looking for candy. |
And if they are they need not participate and deserve to get egged by trick or treaters LOL |
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| kaniz |
Actually, the origins of Halloween do trace back to Religious roots. That said, this also gets a big 'wtf?!' from me.
If anything, one of the great things about Canada is the fact we are a very multi-cultural society - and as such, I think our schools should embrace and celebrate many of the cultural events that happen throughout the year. Not only as a way of showing respect to those events, but also as a great opportunity to educate the students about the cultures that they originate from.
Instead of banning Halloween and calling it "Black and Orange day", why not celebrate it - but also teach the kids the history and roots of it? Explain how other cultures celebrate it, ie: Day of the Dead in Mexico
Many cultures have similar festivals, or festivals at the same time of year. Didn't Diwali just happen? Why not around this time of year - also educate kids about Diwali, there is a large enough Indian population in the city that I'm sure many kids would appreciate their beliefs being talked about, and also a way to educate non-Indian children about it.
Obviously you cant celebrate every holiday/festival from every Religion, or nothing would ever get done and some discretion will be needed. But really, this "Ban everything for fear of offending other people" well, offends me. PC sucks. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
And if they are they need not participate and deserve to get egged by trick or treaters LOL |
I'm not sure I agree with they are deserving of being bombarded by eggs, but I do agree that simply opting out of participation should be enough. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by kaniz
If anything, one of the great things about Canada is the fact we are a very multi-cultural society - and as such, I think our schools should embrace and celebrate many of the cultural events that happen throughout the year. Not only as a way of showing respect to those events, but also as a great opportunity to educate the students about the cultures that they originate from.
Instead of banning Halloween and calling it "Black and Orange day", why not celebrate it - but also teach the kids the history and roots of it? Explain how other cultures celebrate it, ie: Day of the Dead in Mexico
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This is a good point... multi-culturalism started off as being the embracing and celebrating of all the best from the cultures represented in the Canadian Mosaic; however, it somehow changed into celebrating the newly arrived cultures and ostracizing the pre-existing culture. What's really annoying about it all is that this is being done not because people of minority communities are offended but because people of the majority community fear that they may be offended. |
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| Abercrombie |
| They can't call it black and orange day... it would be offensive to blacks, and to russians displeased with the old orange revolution, now would it? |
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| Intangible |
| quote: | Originally posted by Moral Hazard
What? Halloween (all hallows eve - the day of preparation for All Saints Day) is the name that the Roman Catholic church gave to the festival when they co-opted it from an earlier Celtic festival named Samhain, which was the last day of the Celtic year (based on the harvest) and was believed to be the one day where the dead could walk the earth again. Sounds like it may have something to do with religion and death to me.
That said, I think the argument that Wiccans, Christians, and Muslims are offended by Halloween is utter bull, as I've yet to meet someone who is offended by children dressed up as yoda looking for candy. |
Sorry...
I meant Halloween TODAY has nothing to do with religion or death
Most kids have no idea what its roots are. It is just a fun event where you get to dress up and get candy.
Valentine's Day has a religious background as well but now has been completely taken over by commercialism. I really do not see a difference.
Halloween cant offend different religions anymore than the commericalization of Christmas offends some Christains. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by Abercrombie
They can't call it black and orange day... it would be offensive to blacks, and to russians displeased with the old orange revolution, now would it? |
Not to mention Irish Catholics... I mean why do the protestants get a day in honour of them (albeit shared with the blacks)... when's green day? |
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