Halloween no joke for some students

Every Oct. 31, area school officials know there will be heavy absenteeism from the Eastern European students.

Despite a common acceptance of ghoulish masks, ghosts and fake decaying bodies for Halloween, many families from the Russian-speaking community view the day as an unwelcome empowerment of evil and death.

Nelli Kovalenko, a caseworker for Catholic Charities, came to Spokane 10 years ago and had good friends explain how Americans view Halloween. Later, as she settled in, she came to reject the day.

“We want to have eternal life,” Kovalenko said. “Death by itself is our enemy.”

Kovalenko, who’s from Latvia, said not all Russians reject Halloween, but the majority do. She said Halloween events did not exist in her home country.

To Kovalenko, who calls herself a strong Christian, celebrating Halloween “would be the same if you celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday after the Holocaust.”

Schools with significant Eastern European populations, such as Bemiss and Grant elementary schools in Spokane, have acted in response to the trend of students missing school that day.

Several years ago, Bemiss and Grant elementaries both stopped holding parties and allowing costumes on Halloween.

“That whole day is an evil day (to many Russian speakers), and they just stay in,” said Bemiss Principal Kevin Peterson. “It’s a day evil things could happen, so they don’t go out.”

Peterson said last week that he has been asked recently by parents to reconsider the school ban on Halloween parties. It’s a delicate issue.

Districtwide in Spokane Public Schools, teachers and staff have been reminded of cultural sensitivities.

“It is far wiser, more thoughtful and more inclusive to schedule speakers, plays, and songs that all can enjoy than to sanction activities that can create lasting divisions in our schools,” states a district guidelines sheet for holidays and celebrations.

Schools such as Holmes Elementary and Moran Prairie in Spokane still hold Halloween parades with costumes.

Holmes Principal Steve Barnes predicted that about 50 parents will arrive in costume for the afternoon parade through the school Monday.

“It’s one of those things that adults get into it more than the kids,” Barnes said. “It’s a big thing in our community.”

For students who do not wish to participate in the event, a separate “harvest festival” is organized in the school library.

Barnes is aware of the Russians’ issues with Halloween, but no staff or parents have expressed concern about the school events, he said.

“I just haven’t taken this on,” Barnes said.

Moran Prairie Principal Matthew Handelman sent out a survey last year asking parents about their thoughts on the school’s holiday observations.

Of 174 respondents, only 2 percent strongly opposed the use of costumes at school during Halloween. Seventy-five percent of respondents wanted to continue with the current Halloween parties and parade.

The policy is looked at each year, said Handelman, who wrestles with the issue. The biggest question is what to do about a practice in a public school that affects only a few students.

“To me just surfacing the issue – just asking the questions – raises awareness,” Handelman said. “At the very least, we’re aware that we’re affecting people.”

He would be surprised if there was a district principal or teacher who hadn’t at least been told of the issues with Halloween and the Russian-speaking communities.

Kovalenko believes no one from her community would come forward and ask a school to stop a tradition. She believes in having the freedom to make a choice: whether to attend a party or to stay home that day.