updated 01/06/09
Subject: Re: Halloween Celebrations In Public Schools. Back to FAQ Index.
From: RE Klenk 
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006
To: Robin S... 

Robin S... wrote:

Hello... I work in a public Texas school system.  Most of the schools have dropped the Halloween stuff and just say Fall Festival, keeping away all that negative stuff.  However, the middle school I am teaching at, has a principal who is going all out for Halloween including insisting we all wear costumes (it isn't mandatory but she is pushing for it, hard) and is even having a Halloween pep rally.  What can I do?  Is it legal for me to file a grievance?  Can I actually win it? thanks, Robin S....
Dear Robin S....

    As far as the Halloween celebrations in school are concerned I'm not a legal person.  The day is sort of a recognized holiday.
    This Wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween  ,  indicates a Christian (Catholic) influence as far back as 835 AD - see All Saints Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints .  And it has been commercialized or 'Americanized' in the 20th century to the extent that the 'evil' has only recently crept in.  It is hard to say that it is totally or always occultic.
    As far as a grievance is concerned I don't know what you would win.  My suspicion is that even if the school board or principal interpreted Halloween as a secular religious observance your options might be to opt-out and/or seek an All Saints Christian alternative.  However I have a link to some FREE legal council who would perhaps better help you with it.  They at least could receive your telephone call and perhaps give you a better legal foundation before proceeding.  Here's our Liberty Defenders (with phone numbers) link https://hisways.org/liberty/index.htm  
    Thank you for your concern for our public school children's spiritual welfare.
Sincerely,
RE Klenk,    A concerned grandparent of future(?) govt. school kids. (727-526-4790)

 
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Introduction & Goals of Hisways USA, Inc. < https://hisways.org/index.html >
The Parents' State of Ed. Message.  < https://hisways.org/about/index.html >
Religious Guide for P. School Parents.< https://hisways.org/steward/Rel-Guid.htm >
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1. Please pray for our public school children in our government education system.
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