Halloween: Should Elementary Schools Close November 1?

Teachers work day ok..... but because of trick or treating...????
God bless OUR America.... please.....♥

Staff development is going to happen either way, why not do it so that kids can stay out late one holiday?

And this isn't more days off. We still get 180 days of school, they just get taken off our summer if we miss any. But this isn't missing days because they're scheduled, unlike snow days, for example.

It was never that way. And besides, the teahers don't get the day off.

Never has been. And taking a teacher working day is fine in my opinion. They have the right to plan when those will be.

I dont really have a problem with it as long as move an already designated day off to that date. If they are adding an extra one then no they shouldnt be closed. Pagans already have other days off where there is no school.

Schools should give people All Saints Day off.

Nope, why? when there's so many days off in the winter like veterans day thanxgiving, christmas, etc.

If Christians, Jews, and other religions get their holidays recognized then why shouldn't Pagans? Religious freedom means ALL religions Fef, not just yours.

On a side note: I don't understand why kids would be up that late anyway. Most people do trick or treating from 6-9. I didn't get a single trick or treat-er after 8:30.

I have always thought they should have the next day off. Whether they celebrate or not. They take MLK day off. And I don't do anything that day, or most of the other days off for that matter..

At least on Halloween we all gather with freinds and family, and the kids trick or treat . Then we have chili and hot cider and socialize and make an evening of it.

Kids need a day to eat their candy

They don't need a day off. Go tricking or treating early. The kids will still get to bed on time. It only takes like an hour to go trick or treating unless you are one of those people who travels to other neighborhoods to get more candy.

You call it unfair giving the day of a Pagan holiday off, then perhaps they should no longer have christian holidays off since not everyone is christian, and it can be offensive to some to have those holidays, one especially crammed down our throats for months. I feel if we are going to have christmas and easter forced down our throats then Halloween should receive the same treatment, or the christian holidays should no longer receive the hooplah that they do. And it should be Oct. 31st instead of Nov 1st

Do you recognize that the majority of the country belongs to a Judeo-Christian faith and our country's values / founders had the same heritage?

We cannot practically celebrate every minor holiday of every religion in every school -- some schools may have more of a certain faith's population and they can celebrate it if they wish.

The alternative, removing all faith from all schools, has already begun and eroded the values of our nation.

Well I do respect your opinion, but this country was also founded on the basis of religious freedom, yet christianity is and its views are constantly forced upon us. As for the getting every minor holiday, then why is days like columbus day, mlk day, and the like given as days off, and Halloween is hardly a minor holiday, as I recall reading it was second to christmas. I also do not feel that removing religion from the classroom is the cause of the moral decline. The real reason I see as do many others, is the lack discipline, and the lack of respect being taught in home as well as in school. When a child is told that anyone who tries to make them behave or have consequences for their actions is abusing them, then of course the child will not listen. And I also feel that the whole idea of blaming every behavior problem on a mental disorder is as much the problem as the lack of discipline, People can be morally sound without religion, and it should be up to the person, not society or a certain group to decide what they should believe in.

Can I say something right now? Yeah? Thanks.

Halloween is not a minor holiday of a minor faith. It is a huge celebration that everyone (or almost everyone) looks forward to. Stores decorate, kids get excited, televisions start playing spooky stuff.

I'm pretty sure that the kids would love this day off. I know I'd love it to. But not for the candy, but to sleep in. But that makes the teachers have less time to teach their lesson.

That encourages kids to stay out late gathering complete tooth rotting garbage. Sorry, no.

This is silly - pack your lunch and get back to work

Not everyone celebrates December 25th, but it seems to be a fairly general school holiday!

Has nothing to do with fairness, everybody gets the day off, so what's unfair about it?

seems to me they will get into trouble from all te non religious folks out tere for while Oct 31 maybe teh recoginized pagan day of teh lifting of teh vail between teh worlds... NOV 1st is the christian day of all saints... looks like its a damned if you do damned if you don't so seeing as everyone will be tried or sugar high why the heck not as long as it was a planned non contact day

Mexico celebrates a yearly tradition called Day of the Dead during the last days of October and the first days of November. Is this another way to pander to a segment of the population get the vote? A day of is $ to all teachers for no work, gift to them, and a recognition to immigrants.

I don't think the teachers would like a day off without pay either.

i've heard talk about celebrating it on the last saturday of october...that's better than closing school over it. (imho)

Going to school for kids with Halloween around is rather exciting. Its something to do along with your friends, not sitting at home.

Yes yes yes!

I've heard they plan to officialy change Halloween to the last Saturday in October...that's just not right!
I'm sick of seeing everyone celebrate on weekend days. Halloween should be on Halloween and no school the next day makes perfect sense to me.

"Not all kids celebrate the ghoulish holiday"
Not all kids celebrate Christmas either....should we get rid of Christmas break?

No, But I sure an glad I'm not a teacher tomorrow.

the kids will look like this sleeping student

I think schools should plan around the kids to a degree. I mean you don't have school on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years day because kids are probably going to be tired and might be traveling and not there.

Kids are always tired the day after Halloween... it's a good day to give them a break. Maybe take a break from only of those national days that kids aren't involved in at all but get the day off anyways.

Also I think kids need an extra day off after New Years day... because so many stay up late for that and come to school the next day or two and are couple tired and almost nothing gets done then as far as learning...

enufff days off they only go 180

actually they only go 179 days and that includes several 1/2 days which are planned into the schedules.

lets' fight over 1 day shall we I taught 40 yrs 180 days

I teach now and schools are mandated 179 days per year or 1342 hours per year. any days not completed (7.5 hours per day) (ie snow days) are made up at the year and as long as they had this planned then they can take it off... no contact days have always been a part of the schedules. Individual schools set their no contact days and I won't critize this school if they don't critize mine for letting the students have a 1/2 day for first hunt season or a full non contact day for lambing season... we take both those off and rather then take off for an extended period over easter we take the calfing season off...

and?

and... so what is the difference between the days we choose to take off as no contact days and that school taking off for all saints days? they can take it or any other day off they want as long as tehy fullfil the 179 day mandate.

no day off here for All Saints

because no one thought to do it... doesn't mean anything next year someone may think to do it. as long as its scheduled why should it bother anyone?

Yeah, but they'd still go 180 days if they got that day off. They'd just get days sliced off their summer vacation.

Catholic Schools are closed November 1 for All Souls Day. So glad I was sent to a Catholic School as I always knew had the day after Halloween off.

not where I taught