Village Herald

"Address it in Your Home", is what the Newsletter dictates. Kindergarten students were permitted a brief parade through the hallways with treats consisting of Vegetables Only!
What day is this? Is this an ordinary Monday, Tuesday? Wednesday? Thursday? or Friday?
The Grade Ones did research on the Dangers of Halloween, Grade Two's did a study on the meaning of Halloween and Grades Three to Eight did further research on unexpected dangers of Halloween.
You'd think we were talking about a topic that children should be delicately warned against as a serious and bad thing! You'd think we were living in another country and were forcing our traditions on others! You'd think it's something really-really bad!
"Address "IT" in the Privacy of your Home"
The reason for all this hoopla is the growing population of Ethnic students within the school. Suddenly Canadians are no longer permitted to enjoy Canadian Traditions in Canadian Schools!
From the sounds of things, you'd think they were in another country and had to Address Halloween in secrecy, in the privacy of their own homes, amongst Family Members!
Is Halloween not a Family Oriented Celebrated Event for Children here in North America!? I think I speak on behalf of many Tax-Paying Canadian Born Citizens when I say that we expect Halloween to be celebrated at school, where children attend and parents pay for! If by circumstance, our Halloween Traditions, are morally wrong to an ethnic religion, then it is up to the parents to keep their children from school on the given day and in the privacy of their own home, respect their traditions and religion.
The same goes for Halloween Night. Those who do not wish to participate, simply do not place pumpkins, or light outdoor lights or open their doors! This is their perogative and Canadian Right, but to deter the celebration from Canadian Public Schools, I think not!
Many ethnic groups who wish to continue life in their own traditions, build their own schools. In this manner, they maintain control over the language in which is spoken, the literature they read, the discipline their heritage has taught them, the foods they want to eat and last but least, they may celebrate their traditional holidays according to their unique religions and nationality.
Now compare that to Canadian Heritage. We build our own schools, we maintain control over the language(s) spoken, the literature we read, the discipline and laws that our heritage has permitted us, the foods that we want to eat and last but least, we celebrate our traditional holidays according to our unique religions and Canadian Nationality.
If in fact, there are people who feel that our Occasions such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter and the Bunny are all that bad, then why did they move to Canada in the first place? Was this not the country they desired to come to for opportunity? Was this not the country they wished to be in to evade the rules and regulations of their own country?
When do we start banning Octoberfest, Jamaicafest and other internatinal festivities as well? It's about as ridiculous as banning Halloween in our Public Schools.
We teach our children to appreciate life and that there are those less fortunate than ourselves, so why must Canadian Children be deprived of their very own traditions because of others, who are not from Canada and are unaware or unaccepting of Canadian Festivities and Occasions? Quite frankly I detect an envy. Since when must our children be made to feel guilty that they were born Canadian and have to keeptheir traditions and festivities behind closed doors and not be permitted celebration in a Canadian Institution of Creative Learning?
Talk about taking all the fun out of being Canadian "eh"?!
To North Americans, Halloween is a day of fun and fantasy! It's psycologically healthy for children to expand their horizons in creative amusement and play, for without fantasy and dreams, three quarters of what excists on this planet today... would not excist if it weren't for those who followed their dreams?!
We still live in Canada don't we, or did we all pack up and move to a foreign country where, by our own choice, we have chosen to be and accept our new home's rules and traditions?
I hear you mumbling "Predjudice"... not so. I've personally taken in Ethnic Foster Children. I was there at the beginning of a program in Montreal, Quebec, at Sun Youth Organization, that educated Immigrants on Canadian ways, ie: Health Care, Social Assistance and Education.
This program hindered deaths because "new-comers" to Canada were unaware that Canada had a Health Plan. It hindered Youth Prostitution when awareness of our Social Assistance Programs were acknowledged. The program hindered Child Labor when it became common knowledge that it is law in this country that children must go to school!
One of the most important objectives I had with my own Foster Children, was to gift them with the knowledge of their Heritage, for without it, they'd be without true identity! So what's happening to our Canadian Heritage?
With Immigrant Status rising, Canadian Heritage and Canadian Indentity are totally being washed away. First it was the changes in our schools, whereupon Seik Knives were permitted, and worn by children. These knives according to Canadian Laws, are illegal size and are in fact deadly weapons! How does one explain to their children, you have to be born in another country to be allowed to carry them? How does one explain to their children "that it's ok for them and not us"? How does one explain to a child that a huge knife is a part of a religion and "there's nothing to be afraid of"
Then it was changes to RCMP Regulations, the first two initials standing for "Royal Canadian". Then it was the Royal Canadian Legion, which in our opinion, the rules and regulations of such long time Heritage Organizations that represent Canadian History and Tradition, should never have been changed!
When any Individual joins such elite and long time standing Canadian Establishments, who dares to challenge what is our Heritage in the purest. Certainly not a Canadian!! If an Individual "does not like the rules", then don't bother joining. Traditional Rules, Tradition Heritage, Traditional Uniforms, all for one and one for all, no in betweens, no "it's against my religion". All that tells me is it "Sucks to be You!" Accept the Rules of Canadian Heritage or Accept that one does not belong in such an establishment.
We are not talking about the local shopping mall or Community Hall, we're talking something that is the foundation of being Canadian.
It is a very sad fact, that most coming to Canada, come from War torn countries. Where someone in their family has died due to conflict and violence. It is commonly known that most have learned how to shoot a gun or use a blade, before the age of 15. Another common denominator is poverty and survival. With these two factors comes thievery, prostitution and too many crimes to mention. With this kind of upbringing, learning about Halloween, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, not only seems weak and foolish but it seems to them we are all intoxicated or something!
Whether Black, White, Red or Yellow, "Canadian" stands for something doesn't it? We don't hinder Greek Easters, nor do we hinder the festivities that go with, we don't hinder Orthodox Jews or their festivities, we don't hinder Black Ethnic festivities, Chinese New Years or other festivities that occur annually. We don't hinder nothing.
Religion is sacred to the one who believes. Religion is something personal amongst groups or families of the same following, therefore, it is best kept behind closed doors and kept amongst those who follow suit. Here in Canada, we have Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Tooth Fairies, Easter Bunnies, Santa and Santa's Helpers. That's who and what we are. We cannot apologize to individuals who run from their countries, on the contrary, we can expect them to change their ways, because they live here now!
One Mother said: "If it wasn't for problems in their own countries, they wouldn't be here. Whatever happened to Respect, Honor and Gratefulness? We are fortunate and we share that fortune. We aren't greedy and Immigration has come a long way from the times when New-Comers were made to change their last name to something more Canadian. When will our Government and Laws STOP bending for those who are Greedy and Self-Centered, rather than appreciative and accepting?"
Coming to Canada is a privelege. In Canada, one has rights to health care, education, shelter, income and opportunity. No one has the right to exploit or rape these benefits. One Rule for all, that's the choice when coming to Canada, but it's a sad and sorry day, that Canadians have to keep their Traditions and Heritage behind closed doors, like the School says " to be addressed...."
Halloween, for children, comes only once a year. Is the school there to dictate and deprive children of their childhood? It's no wonder children falter in their criteria when all their school does is create a drab and uninviting atmosphere?
I asked my Seven year old Grandson, who is in grade three, what he thought of a school that only allowed Kindergarden students to parade in a Costume and eat Carrot Sticks and Celery for treats and he said "it would be time to move Gramma".
He has anxiously placed his BatMan Costume on a hanger behind the door. It's all cleaned and ready to go, waiting for his school's annual Halloween Class Party!
My suggestion to these parents was: Get together and write your local MLA, your Premier, your local and not so local Newspapers. I suggested that everyone keep their kids home and have a designated Party at one of the homes and create a Pot Luck type Halloween - Call the Newspaper and Invite them to the Party. Get pics in the paper with an explanation as to why those kids aren't in School! I suggested that if School Fees weren't paid as yet... not to pay them at all... No one needs to pay for Dictatorship!
We still live in Canada don't we? Or should I be asking "What does it mean to be Canadian?"
Stay tuned for our next month's edition, to see what reponse, if any, we get from the school. What are the odds, they'll pretend we didn't write and there's no issue? Till next time........
Find out how other Communities celebrated Halloween in: A Village Halloween. Fun for Everyone!
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