Wiccans halt Halloween for school kids
KING5.com (subscription), WA - 12 hours ago ... I won't be able to have my kids wear green. Or their birthday and they can't bring cupcakes because of Jehovah's Witnesses," said Katie McCoy, parent. ... |
Wiccans halt Halloween for school kids
05:21 PM PDT on Thursday, October 21, 2004
By ERIC WILKINSON / KING 5 News
PUYALLUP, Wash. - Six-year-old Molly Macon was looking forward to wearing her cheerleader costume and celebrating Halloween with her schoolmates, until her mom got this letter saying there would be "no observance" of Halloween at Puyallup schools.
"I just think it's wrong and that it's not fair to the children," said said her mother.
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The school district says it got calls from witches - yes, actual witches - complaining about the continuation of ugly stereotypes.
"That witches are portrayed with pointy noses and flying on broomsticks," said Karen Hansen, Puyallup School District.
The district says it is just trying to be sensitive to individual religious beliefs, whether you're a practicing catholic or practicing witchcraft.
Parents say this is the scariest example of political correctness they've ever seen.
"Next it's gonna be my birthday, which is St. Patrick's Day. I won't be able to have my kids wear green. Or their birthday and they can't bring cupcakes because of Jehovah's Witnesses," said Katie McCoy, parent.
She has a point. If witches are offended by witches, who's next? Geeks? Hippies? Republicans?
Juliet Sykes, a practicing witch, or Wiccan as they're properly called, says those who complain about Halloween should have a witches brew and relax.
"I don't take offense to costumes, because that's not what I am, it's not what I about. Do I look like this? This is my little witch that I put out," said Sykes. "It's not what the Wiccan religion is about."
Puyallup school officials say the decision to cancel Halloween celebrations is a permanent one and students who wear costumes to school will be asked to take them off or leave.
School officials add Wiccans weren't the only ones who complained about Halloween. Some Christian groups complained about the glamorization of the occult.