This Halloween there will be no celebrations, candy, or costumes at some Illinois schools. The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 supports schools that are trying to move away from Halloween celebrations that include the tradition of celebrating the day with candies and costumes.
The move is said to be part of their district-wide commitment to equity. Halloween celebrations, as per the school district, is claimed to be embedded with a range of inequities which can result in unintended negative impact on students, their family and staff.
A message from the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Senior Leadership Team district said, “We are confident those who are choosing to move away from traditional Halloween celebrations will find new and engaging ways to build community within their schools.”
It further reads, “In District 65, we remain committed to equity and discontinuing current and past practices that are not in alignment with our goals. Everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, ability level, religion, spoken language, cultural beliefs and traditions, gender identity, sexual orientation, and citizenship status, should feel comfortable being their authentic selves while in our schools.”
The school district showed support for administrators, educators, and staff members who were part of the decision to move away from traditional Halloween celebrations.
