Parents Blast Exclusion From Manchester Schools' Halloween Parades

(Manchester Township parents are left with taking photos of kids in costume at home rather than snapping shots while they parade around school.)

While parents lined up at schools across New Jersey and the country to watch their elementary schoolers show off their Halloween costumes, parents in the Manchester Township School District are up at arms after the parades were moved inside for the second straight year due to safety concerns.

Several parents contacted the Patch to complain about the move, which they say is unnecessary.

“This is a rite of passage,” said Josh Langenberger, whose child attends Whiting Elementary School. Langenberger expressed frustration over what he said was a wide ranging exclusion of parents from Halloween activities at the schools.

“They discourage parents from coming to the classroom to help out with the parties,” he said. “Our kids are missing out on being kids.”

Manchester Superintendent David Trethaway said the change is necessary for the protection of the students.

“Safety and security is a priority and our facilities make it difficult for parents, students and staff to participate in a parade indoors,” Trethaway said. “In the past, when the parades were held outside, we have little or no control over who would be on school grounds, and to rely on our staff to be responsible for the safety and security of up to 550 students in some cases is not feasible.”

“They (the kids) go outside for recess all the time, why would a parade be so different security wise?” asked Amy Kielkowski. “Most area schools have them. Kids love to see their parents at the school participating in their lives.”

“I understand the parent concerns and we welcome their participation in their child’s school experiences,
Trethaway said. “We have moved some of our elementary concerts and other programs to the high school to allow more parents to participate in the programs. We are also able to run grade specific programs at night in the elementary schools and parents are always welcome to attend these events.”

“Unfortunately, to run a schoolwide program outside does present safety issues and this has to be our priority,“ he said.

The Manchester schools are not the only ones that have restricted parades or even canceled them outright. A school district in Connecticut canceled its parades this year until parent outcry resulted in a decision to reinstitute them. In Maplewood, N.J., all Halloween activities in the schools were canceled, then revived after an outcry.

Trethaway said the students enjoyed the parades even though they were inside.

“I was able to visit each of the elementary schools today and students were having fun and still participating in their academic work. Classes were also invited to have classroom activities later in the day,” he said.

“The elementary principals would be happy to discuss involving parents in schoolwide activities while insuring the safety and security of all of the students at future parent advisory meetings,” Trethaway said.

Langenberger, who is a teacher in another district, said he and his wife are considering pulling their child from the district in favor of St. Joseph’s Elementary, because they feel the security issue is overblown.

“They’re only little for a short time,” he said. “The parents love this (the parade), even my parents come.”

“If someone wants to do something bad, there’s nothing you can do to stop it,” he said. “I support the safety of students and our schools and have confidence in their abilities without erecting a wall around the school.”