North Penn Under Fire for Policy on Halloween, Holiday Parades

The local media has jumped all over Inglewood Elementary School and Principal Orlando Taylor, who sent a letter out to parents stating that the school would not be supporting or sponsoring Halloween parades, parties or dressing in costumes.
"Some holidays observed in the community that are considered by many people to be secular (ex.: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day) are viewed by others as having religious overtones," wrote Taylor, quoting the school district policy verbatim. "The district must always be mindful of the sensitivity of all members of the community with regard to holidays and celebrations of a religious, cultural or secular nature."
However, the North Penn School District policy does not outright ban holiday parades.
The district teachers can teach about religious and cultural practices, per its policy. It cannot sponsor said practices.
The district policy states religious holidays cannot be practiced during the school day. However, school-wide parades and holiday shops are permitted after school hours.
So, in essence, Halloween isn't cancelled at Inglewood--it has the Inglewood Fall Fest Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. And Gwyn-Nor Elementary has its Halloween Family Dance the night of Oct. 25.
The same goes for Knapp, A.M. Kulp, Hatfield and other North Penn elementary schools. Kulp has a hayride and bonfire offsite on Oct. 25, and a fall book fair this Friday. Bridle Path has a Trunk-or-Treat event on Oct. 18, and Montgomery follows up with one on Oct. 26. 
North Wales has a Fall Celebration Oct. 25 and Walton Farm has a Crazy Hair Day on Halloween. York Avenue has a Mini Harvest/Book Fair Night Oct. 24.
Have an issue with the policy? Discuss it at the Community Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich on Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m. at the Upper Gwynedd Township Municipal Building.
North Penn School District Administrative Regulation 6119(a) was first reviewed in 1992, enacted in 2012, and revised as recent as August 2013.
Last year, the regulation was reviewed by a committee of K-12 administration, revised and communicated to schools, according to Christine Liberaski, North Penn school and community engagement manager. She said the regulation was revised for two reasons.
"One, there was a need for consistent practices across all schools in terms of which holidays are celebrated, when and how. Prior to the revisions to the regulation, this was at the discretion of the principal," Liberaski said. "Two, there was a need to preserve as much instructional time during the school day as possible. With all that is required of both our students and staff in terms of academic achievement and effective instruction, administration felt guidelines needed to be better established in support of instructional time."
Other celebrations not permitted during school hours include Nativity displays and plays portraying religious miracles.
North Penn parents have the right to excuse their students from instruction focused on religious beliefs, through written request.
At the elementary level, the principal has discretion over classroom parties.
According to the district policy, if a party is held during a time of the year when members of the community "celebrate religious, cultural and secular holidays, and any portion of the party is planned to acknowledge such holidays," then that party must include all the religious, cultural and secular holidays near the date of the party.
Calling a party a "Halloween party," "Fall party," "Winter party,"  or "Valentine's party" is permissible, under school rules.
When it comes to holiday symbols, like Christmas trees, stars, jack-o-lanterns, dreidels and shamrocks, they are only allowed as decorations. Crosses, menorahs, angels and the Star of David, for example, are permitted as teaching aids, under district rules.
It all comes down to religion in public schools. Teachers must toe the line to teach about history and cultures and the religious traditions in such cultures. 
As the district policy states:
It shall be clear that teaching must foster knowledge about religion, not indoctrination into religion; it should be academic, not devotional or testimonial; it should promote awareness of religion, not sponsor its practice; it should inform students about the diversity of religious views rather than impose one particular view; and it should promote understanding of different religious views as well as respect for the rights of persons who hold such views.
Contrary to popular belief, the changes were not the result of one person complaining to the school district.
"The changes had been discussed for over a year and were established this past spring. Many of our parent associations showed great support of these changes as it has established a consistent practice across schools, while still allowing for each Home & School Association the opportunity to hold events such as Halloween Parades, Valentine’s Day Dances and the like in the evening," Liberaski said.
Some parents and community members have a big problem with the district policy.
Chris Gimaro, of Gimaro Steak and Seafood on Bethlehem Pike in Montgomery Township, is planning a Halloween party and parade for students.