Aussie school bans 'spiritually dangerous' celebration
St Michael's Grammar has taken a stance against all things spooky.
A private school has issued a warning to parents about the dangers of celebrating Halloween, banning any association to the holiday on campus.
Late last week parents of St Michael's Grammar students in Melbourne received a lengthy message on the school's app from Senior Chaplain Father Kenyon McKie. After recapping the history and traditions of Halloween, Father McKie said the spooky stuff was not welcome at the school, The Age reports.
"Many Christians would feel that recognising Halloween gives the false impression that what is actually potentially spiritually dangerous is innocuous," the chaplain wrote. “Some children develop a fascination with the supernatural that may lead them into more sinister occult practices later in life.”
School believes Halloween stirs other undesired outcomes
The Anglican school said the ban was in place for other reasons rather than the holiday not aligning with their Christian values, and referred to other nuisances they believe are likely to surface if Halloween is celebrated.
“As a Child Safe School, we do not want to promote a practice that, in some cases, causes annoyance, destruction of property and havoc for our neighbourhoods,” he wrote.
Father McKie said families were "welcome to observe celebrations and festivals of their choosing outside school" however Halloween will not be tolerated on school premises.
Despite Halloween having many connotations with witchcraft and other worldly beings, the origin of the holiday actually traces back to a pagan religious festival called Samhain, first celebrated in ancient Scotland and Ireland, to mark the end of harvest and start of the darker half of the year.
St Michael's Grammar has stood firm on its position which reportedly has been in place for several years. “In the past we have never had any behavioural issues or concerns regarding the school’s recommendations on Halloween, and we do not anticipate any issues this year,” a spokesperson told The Age.
Yahoo News Australia has reached out to the school for comment.
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