Halloween killjoys tell pupils masks are banned at disco
THEY have long been the ghoulish centrepieces of children’s Halloween outfits.
But primary school pupils as young as four have been banned from wearing masks at their Halloween disco – so teachers can tell them apart.
The crackdown on the traditional scary masks has infuriated parents, many of whom had already bought costumes which included them. But staff at King’s Road Primary School in Rosyth, Fife, insist they must be able to see the children’s faces at all times.
The ban was announced by the Parent Council, which said it would be ‘extremely difficult to distinguish which child is which if faces are covered’.
The body also suggested that parents themselves were partly responsible for the ban on masks.
It said: ‘If the Parent Council had a larger number of volunteers from you as parents to help, such measures may not be in place.
‘For future events the Parent Council would appreciate further support and understanding as they are volunteers working for your children.’
The school has 440 pupils. If all were to attend the discos on Monday there would be 189 to keep track of at the P1 to P3 event and 251 at the older children’s disco.
Hoods and balaclavas have also been banned.
Some of their parents are furious about the ban, claiming they were not given enough notice and that it is unnecessary. One, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘I’m not sure what they think is going to happen.
‘It’s a group of four to 12-year-olds in Halloween costumes. How much danger are they realistically in from wearing masks?
‘What exactly are they worried about? A mini-paedophile dressed as Dracula stuffing children under their costume?
‘They all have tickets to get in and teachers know all of the pupils. It just seems like the world’s gone mad.’
Other parents took to the Facebook post to question the decision.
Deborah Stephenson wrote: ‘A Facebook post at 10pm four days prior to the event is not the best.’ She added: ‘I’m not trying to be awkward. If it was stated in the letter fair enough I missed it, but I have three outfits purchased and all have face coverings of some sort.
‘As you can appreciate outfits are not cheap and now I have three children I have to explain this to. I can improvise three outfits for Monday, but a hint in the letter would have avoided this.
‘Not everyone is on Facebook. I have other friends who are now in the same predicament.’
Another parent, Michelle Playfair said: ‘No masks? That totally ruins the costume.’
The school’s headteacher Gordon Buchanan said it was ‘hugely disappointing’ that event organisers were being criticised.
He added: ‘As you can appreciate due to the high number of children it is extremely difficult to identify quickly which child is which during sign-in and sign-out if faces are covered.
‘Not all children will be accompanied to and from the party by an adult. Some will have written parental permission to leave by themselves.
‘Our volunteers need to be absolutely sure they are releasing the right child.
‘It also helps when trying to control the over-exuberance of the children in the hall if we can see who they are.’
Mr Buchanan said the event had been managed in this fashion for several years without anyone’s fun being spoiled.
A Fife Council spokesman said at least three schools in the area had also banned masks at Halloween parties. Tales from Scotland’s ghost hunters
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