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Some elementary schools are banning 'Squid Game' Halloween costumes

The popular Netflix show is sparking a costume debate this year.
Mott Road, Enders Road and Fayetteville elementary schools in upstate New York are not allowing "Squid Game" costumes this Halloween.
Mott Road, Enders Road and Fayetteville elementary schools in upstate New York are not allowing "Squid Game" costumes this Halloween.Noh Juhan / Netflix
/ Source: TODAY

"Squid Game" might be breaking viewership records on Netflix, but one school district in upstate New York is taking preventative measures to ensure that the popular, albeit violent, show isn't trending in its classrooms on Halloween.

After noticing some students mimicking games from the hit show during recess, school officials felt compelled to address the situation head-on. As first reported by People, principals from Mott Road, Enders Road and Fayetteville elementary schools emailed parents to inform them of the concerning playground activity and also to let them know that "Squid Game"-inspired Halloween costumes would not be permitted at school.

"Because of this activity, our principals wanted to make sure our families are aware that it would be inappropriate for any student to wear to school a Halloween costume from this show because of the potential violent messages aligned with the costume," Fayetteville-Manlius School District Superintendent Craig Tice told TODAY in a statement.

"They also wanted families to be aware that some of our younger students are talking about and mimicking aspects of the show/game at school so parents and guardians would have the opportunity to speak with their children themselves about it and reinforce the school message that games associated with violent behavior are not appropriate for recess," Tice continued.

Tice explained that district principals typically remind families about the guidelines for Halloween every October, adding that "no items that can be interpreted as weapons should be brought to school, such as toy swords or guns, and that costumes should not be too gory or scary so as not to scare our younger students."

Another New York school district, White Plains Public Schools, has not decided to prohibit "Squid Game"-inspired costumes. Superintendent Joseph Ricca told TODAY that banning any one type of costume "can become a true challenge."

"Many of the time-honored costumes that children choose often have historical (or) popular culture connections that transcend the holiday," he explained. "We often think of pirates as a fairly common Halloween costumes — typically no concern there. However, historically and today, pirates are criminal outlaws — a role we certainly do not want our children aspiring to."

Ricca emphasized that each school district needs to approach costume guidelines in a manner that makes sense for its unique community.

"I understand and respect that all communities are different and, as such, some may choose to limit the types (and) styles of costumes children can wear," Ricca said. "In the White Plains City School District we do not allow over-the-head masks, overly gory, patently offensive or inappropriate costumes. These guidelines have served us well and keep our children safe as they celebrate the spirit of the holiday."

"Squid Game," a Korean thriller, is a nine-episode series that was released on Netflix on Sept. 17. Since its debut, it shattered records and quickly became the streaming service's biggest release ever,with more than 111 million subscribers tuning in to watch the dystopian Korean drama.

The show follows contestants who are in debt and agree to compete in children's games for the chance to win a massive cash prize. The catch? If they lose, they have to suffer deadly consequences.

Many parents have been wondering whether the show, which has a TV-MA (mature audiences) rating, is appropriate for their children. Laura Linn Knight, a parenting educator and former elementary school teacher, told TODAY Parents that many 9- to 10-year-olds are starting to watch the show but she doesn't think it's appropriate for that age range.

"Many parents think, 'My child can understand and differentiate between reality and fiction,'" Knight said. "But children cannot differentiate as much as we think. So when we're sending in these images and expecting them to do what an adult can do, it's unrealistic for them."

Since the series is pretty violent and scary, Knight warned that it can be upsetting for children.

"They're taking childhood games that they're playing on the school yard, like red light/green light and tug of war, so children are actively playing these games with their friends," Knight said. "Now they're being exposed to it in a way where killing is involved and it's life-threatening."

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