Hoboken tells its students: PLEASE don’t dress up like a clown!

HOBOKEN — In recent months, a series of bizarre incidents has occurred nationwide in which people have dressed up as “scary clowns” either to frighten children or worse, to commit criminal acts. As a result, many school districts — from Chicago to Florida — have banned clown costumes this year, or asked children not to wear them.
The Hoboken public schools followed “suit” last week by asking kids not to come to school dressed like a Bozo.
The school district sent home memos explaining that teachers and middle school and high school students have been asked not to wear clown costumes on Halloween. In addition, parents of younger students were asked to “understand the context” of the incidents and the fact that kids may be frightened if they dress their children in such costumes.
One memo read, “We have asked all staff members and middle and high school students to refrain from wearing clown costumes merely for safety purposes and to ensure that no one becomes anxious or nervous.”
Students have also been told not to bring fake weapons as part of their costumes.