Halloween Judgement

Due to a calenderic error, I have to teach my class on the 31st of October, so I won't get to hand out candies to the Trick or Treaters this year. This really bums me out because I love decorating the front of the house and scaring the bejesus out of the kids before I hand out the goodies.

A friend of mine sent me a link to a Tete a Claques video about Halloween (http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/video.php?vid=31), but what's funny (or sad) about it is that I have this exact conversation with some kids every year (especially teens).

Some kids just show up with an open pillow case and no costume, demanding free candy. I spend alot of money on this candy, so to me, the least they can do is wear something creative to earn it.

Some conversations I get are:

Me: What are you dressed as?
Kid: (annoyed) Nothing.
Me: Then you get nothing.
Kid: (shocked) What? No... c'mon... Trick or Treat man...
Me: Get off my porch.

Me: What are you dressed as?
Kid: I'm an evil basketball player!
Me: Are those your own clothes?
Kid: Uh... yeah.
Me: Then go play basketball. This is Halloween.

I even had a kid bite me when I refused to give him candy 'cause he wasn't dressed up ("I'm a vampire! Watch! *bite*")!

Since I can't hand out candy this year, I beg of the rest of you to send out the right message. If kids show up at your door in their costumes, reward them with a treat. If they can't be bothered to be creative enough to come up with something interesting, don't reward their laziness.

Reward creativity. Don't encourage greed and laziness.