Happy Literacy Day!
For those of you without school-aged children, Literacy Day is how schools today have watered down the Halloween that we all celebrated as children. Instead of dressing up as the more traditional scary frights, such as witches, vampires or ghouls, those who dress up can go as their favorite character from a book (nothing frightening please!).
My youngest daughter, Katie, is dressed as Dorothy, from the "Wizard of Oz." She has ruby red shoes -- and a little dog too!
But I fear that some of my favorite literary characters -- the cast of the Harry Potter tomes -- would be on the unacceptable list. Funny, but I don't think celebrating Halloween the old-fashioned way traumatized me growing up.
Do you think Literacy Days are a better way to celebrate the holiday, or just a way of going overboard on political correctness?
UPDATE: My husband just called with a report of some other costumes in Katie's preschool class -- several Disney characters, one other Dorothy AND A HARRY POTTER! Needless to say, I'm pleased.
Comments
I think it is nice to dress up as characters from a book so long as the kids know who they are supposed to be and have either read the book or had it read to them. My daughter used to be in a Christian school and they had to dress as Bible characters. As long as the costume is school appropriate they should be able to express themselves.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | October 31, 2007 2:07 PM
I'm guessing no Adam and Eves were allowed.
Posted by: Mike D. | October 31, 2007 2:27 PM
I did not see any Adam & Eves although with a flesh colored bodysuit and a little creativeness a large fig leaf could be made and not be too risque.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | October 31, 2007 8:31 PM
Renaming holidays/celebrations is a curious thing. I noticed the librairies were closed not because of Columbus Day but what they called Administrative Day. Is this what they called it at all government run entities that were closed.If so-good!Then we can do away with this unneeded day off and add millions back into our reserves locally, statewide and federally.Happy Administrative Day?I don't think so. It sounds oxymoronic.
Posted by: Brian Murray | November 1, 2007 7:03 AM
I love this idea! It's just a little twist on Halloween that's really quite creative for a school activity. It would be great to get a costume designer as a guest speaker for the kids and really get their imaginations going. Not all kids are creative; they need encouragement... Kids -- like adults -- get in ruts with the same old, same old costumes (pumpkin, pirate -- yawwwwn) and this inspires them to try something new and fun.
Posted by: Gail Marshall | November 1, 2007 8:55 AM