Witches, werewolves, and scarecrows galore! With Halloween fast approaching, many 

students are in preparation to show off their scary selves at school with their ghouling costumes. 

Although dressing up on Halloween promotes school spirit, some students find 

themselves getting out of hand and ignoring the costume dress code. Many are outraged over 

these restrictions and find some of them to be too demanding, but students must be educated 

as to why these rules are needed for the spooky day. 

Society nowadays is not the same as it was decades ago. There is no longer 

segregation, the LGBTQ+ community has been more widely accepted by the public, and the 

circumstances of minority groups are taken into consideration. Students require strict rules to 

ensure that these changes are understood, even though they don’t like them. When a student 

came to school dressed as a homeless person for Halloween last year, Aransazu Contreras, a 

senior, was unsettled. “People don’t choose those lifestyles,” she said. Contreras hopes that 

students learn the difference between what is appropriate and what is blatantly offensive. She 

believes that homelessness is no laughing matter; it pokes fun at a social status that is out of 

one’s own control. 

“You also have to keep [the middle schoolers in mind],” Contreras added. With a large 

middle school population on campus, the older students have to remain aware of how they 

behave and dress up this Halloween to make the younger students feel safe and comfortable, 

setting an example for future generations. 

Not only is degrading social statuses a restriction, but the degradation of gender, 

religion, race, and numerous other groups that are targeted in the media or society are 

disallowed. For many, these rules do not appear so outrageous since the rules prevent 

offending specific groups, but once students go down the list, they come across rules such as 

“no replica weapons” and “masks may not be worn” as listed on the Los Angeles Unified School 

District Policy Bulletin. “I just don’t get why they make fake weapons such a big deal if it doesn’t 

hurt anyone…” said a senior, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid ridicule, “…and 

forbidding masks limit the costume options we have.” Costume availability is a big concern that 

students face since many have already gotten their costumes, and without certain props, some 

feel as though their costumes are incomplete. 

Ms.Cotta, a chemistry teacher and leadership advisor, agrees that restricting fake 

weapons and masks are a necessity. “The rules limit things for safety, not creativity,” she said. 

Cotta is all about students having fun, but wants them to realize that the rules are there for a 

reason, which is to ensure the school’s safety for those who attend. 

A simple message that Mr.Meza, the assistant principal, wants to share with students 

who dislike the costume rules is that high school doesn’t last forever. “School is just a short 

period. Soon you will be able to dress how you like.” Meza understands why students remain 

annoyed when administrators enforce such strict regulations, but they must also remember that 

there is a reason behind every rule. Administrators want their students to be safe, so the next 

time someone complains about the costume rules, tell them to stop and think about why they 

may be there.