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Jesus costume deemed too offensive for school
Filed under: In The News
Alex Woinski says his friends often tell him that his long hair makes him look a lot like Jesus Christ. So when it came time to choose a costume for his school's Halloween celebration, he went with the obvious. He donned a crown of thorns, a fake beard, a long white robe and some sandals and showed up at West Brook Middle School in Paramus, New Jersey as Jesus Christ.His costume was a hit with students, not so much with Principal Joan Broe. Claiming that his costume was distracting, she sent the 13-year-old home. "Children were [asking], where is the boy who is Jesus Christ?" she said. "It was disrupting the education process."
But Woinski says that when he asked why he was being sent home, he was told it was because his costume was offensive to some students. Woinski's mom suspects that political correctness has once again reared its ugly head. "I think the whole freedom of speech and expression has definitely had a damper put on it, and this is proof of that," says Kim Woinski.
Although Principal Broe claims her decision to send Woinski home had nothing to do with the fact that his costume had a religious theme, I don't think I buy it. The education process at that school was disrupted the moment kids were allowed to wear their costumes to class. How is a Jesus costume any more disruptive than a witch, a pirate or a Hannah Montana costume?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-01-2008 @ 12:28PM
Kirstie said...I knew a kid in high school (ironically, also named Alex, though it's not the same one) who also had long hair and a beard, and did look quite a lot like Jesus. He dressed up as Jesus every year and got more detailed every year - down to the crown of thorns and bleeding wounds in his palms, feet and side. As he detailed the wounds it could have gotten a little offensive (and I'm sure there were people who WERE offended), but he was never sent home or asked to change.
He built a large crucifix senior year, too, which he dragged around. That crossed a line, I thought, but he didn't even attempt to bring that school school; he kept that at home.
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11-01-2008 @ 1:45PM
Sheryl said...Who was offended, Christians or Atheists? I can't see how dressing up as Jesus would be offensive to anyone. Freddy Kruger, or Michael on the other hand, I could see. The world is weird.
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11-26-2008 @ 9:39PM
greatgoog3 said...Actually, I dressed as Jesus in High School (similar conditions, frequent comparisons). Many people were offended - especially blacks for some reason. The fact that I was a known non-Christian may have had something to do with it though. I thought it was the same as any other fantasy character: I think the "Passion of the Christ" is far more gruesome than the first Halloween....
11-01-2008 @ 5:52PM
DZ said...Actually I'm not sure who it offended, atheists of Christians. Regardless, though, it seems all the filth of demons and evil is ok to parade around in and feed our kids, but not something good. Why does freedom of speech not apply to Christians anymore?
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11-02-2008 @ 9:04AM
Lori said...Here we go again. They just don't want Jesus in the schools. I don't celebrate Halloween because it has to do with demons & devils. The point i am trying to make is that it is pretty bad when people dress up their children as a witch or a devil its alright, but when you come to Jesus its wrong. We need to take a stand.
11-01-2008 @ 8:48PM
Ostephanie said...I think a scream costume is more offensive then Jesus.That is a wonderful costume.. My friend had a custom mad angel costume. She did not get sent home..
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11-01-2008 @ 9:42PM
LS said...People *really* need to get a grip. Honestly.
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11-01-2008 @ 11:44PM
Maureen said...I don't think the school should have sent him home. I wouldn't encourage my kids to dress as Jesus, but if you look at the costumes, many of them could offend someone in the crowd. People have to get a grip.
I'm a Catholic and I remember in Catholic grammar school we didn't dress up in Halloween costumes, rather, we had to dress as saints -- for all saints day. Us Catholics are big on saints so it was fine for us to dress up as St. Joseph or St. Peter or St. Elizabeth. There was one saint, Lucy I think, who is the patron saint of the blind. She is often pictured carrying a plate with eyes on it because her eyes may have been gouged out before her execution. Anyway, one year a girl dressed up as St. Lucy, complete with dish of fake eyes. Seems like that might have offended some folks, but not us Catholics! :)
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11-01-2008 @ 11:54PM
Chuck said...I agree with the comment to get a grip. the kid did not do it to send some political or religious message. He did it to be funny and get a laugh from the other kids.Do we really want to turn into a variation of fundamentalist Iran with thought police and no humor. Typical bureaucratic response, LOL, send the kid home and pretend it didn't happen so no one could accuse bureaucrat of allowing such things to happen in their circle of power.
Visualize whirled peas . . .
Chuck
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11-02-2008 @ 12:44PM
kathy teff said...Re: THE HALLOWEEN SCROOGE: The principal is so worried about being politically "correct" she is politically "inept." When does this ridiculousness end? A neighbor told me the other day that her school does not allow a "thanksgiving feast" for the kids, now it is a "family meal." Does anyone know the email address for this principal? Isn't it bad enough they abolished Christmas and Easter vacation? Did she ever read any US history --"one nation under God." Thank you.
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11-02-2008 @ 2:37PM
hall monitor said...So nobody else had on a distracting costume out of the whole school?
Hall Monitor
http://detentionslip.org
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11-02-2008 @ 11:28PM
Holly said...How can you guys know what Jesus looked like? There isn't a Bible passage that really describes his physical appearance down to hair length, eye color, etc. How can you portray Jesus? You can't. He's perfect, no one can fathom his love or his sacrifice.
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11-03-2008 @ 1:06PM
jessica said...Dress up like the devil.. it's okay... Dress up like Jesus.. Your going home.. Where is this world coming to??
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11-03-2008 @ 4:41PM
LCMom said...I am quite proud to say that my son also dressed as Jesus for Halloween. In his words, he didn't want to dress ghoulie, and wanted to dress like the man he admired. His hair is also long, and he's often told he looks like Jesus. I encouraged him to express himself. We talked about how far he thought he should go so as not to be disrespectful. He did not carry a cross, nor did he have the crown of thorns.
His school had no problem. Rather they joked around with him appropriately. Later in the day as he was out with his friends, a guy passing in a car yelled out he loved Jesus.
How can any of this be an issue? People dress as people they admire, or they dress ghoulishly, or foolishly. It's one day of the year. Get over it and move on!
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