School District Bans Halloween To Promote ‘Diversity, Equity And Inclusion’
The superintendent of a New Jersey school district banned official school-wide Halloween celebrations under the guise of “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” claiming the festivities may offend people from various cultural and religious backgrounds.
Families of students in the South Orange & Maplewood School District district received a letter on Oct. 6 from Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, the superintendent of SOMD, asking parents to reflect upon how school-sponsored Halloween celebrations exacerbate inequity.
Decisions regarding how Halloween should be observed have long been a difficult subject to tackle, Taylor explains.
“As you know, SOMSD is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion meaningfully — not just saying the words but also promoting an inclusive school…Our aim is to build a consistent approach across the District as to how our schools observe and celebrate holidays and special events,” Taylor wrote.
