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(Photo: Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY —- If your child is in elementary school, chances are he or she took part in a costume parade or classroom party to celebrate Halloween this past week.
And chances are also good that you were the bleary-eyed mom or dad who stayed up late to put the finishing touches on a costume. No matter, you packed into your child's school multipurpose room for the costume parade the next day, camera in tow.
Students march in the Halloween parade at the Philip G. McCarthey Campus of Rowland Hall-St. Marks School in Salt Lake City on October 29, 2010.
It's good clean fun, many parents attest. But it's hardly the typical school day, educators say. Children are excited to show off their costumes, see their peers in costume and eat copious amounts of candy. It can be a challenge to keep students on task.
Still, many educators encourage the activities because they are a prime opportunity to mingle with parents. "I think it can be a community builder. Parents come because they want to support the school and see their kids having fun," said James Martin, principal of Salt Lake's Mountain View Elementary School.
But he concedes that such activities require planning and the sacrifice of instructional time. "It's not a regular day by any means," he said.
Sandy Elementary School takes its Halloween parade to the streets, marching a few blocks down the city's Historic Main Street, along with the mayor and superintendent of schools.
"Our kids work very hard. At Halloween, we take a few minutes and celebrate with our kids. There's nothing wrong with that," said Principal Sandra Dahl-Houlihan. "We hit the books hard when it's over."
Dede Ryan, a West Jordan mother of four, says she appreciates that parents turn out in droves for school costume parades, but she laments the lack of participation in activities more academic in nature. "It's kind of eye-opening to see the difference in participation," she said.
Jenny McAllister said her children's Taylorsville school had a classroom party sans costumes, which was a change of pace from the customary parade.
"Looking at it from both sides, as a mom, I'm kind of relieved not to have to play the costume game," she acknowledged.
McAllister said she is intrigued that two of the most celebrated holidays at schools are Halloween and Valentine's Day. "I think we've chosen the two least politically irritating holidays. What does that say about us?"
Kristy McMurray, an Eagle Mountain mother of four elementary-school-age children, said she enjoys preparing costumes and spending time with other parents at her children's school at the costume parade.
"If they take all the fun out of education, they won't want to learn. I think this is fun for them. They look forward to it. And it's fun to see them dressed up and having a good time with their peers."
E-mail: marjorie@desnews.com
