Thursday, 4:30 PM
Masquerading as priests and superheroes, Boston Latin Academy seniors sent home
By Tracy Jan, Globe Staff
Halloween was no treat today for about a dozen Boston Latin Academy seniors barred from class for wearing costumes.
Despite warnings from their headmaster that costumes would be prohibited, about 50 students showed up dressed as superheroes, a life guard, a priest, a soldier in green fatigues, cows, clowns and the devil.
Most students had carried a change clothes in their backpacks and complied with school officials who asked them to change, said Maria Garcia-Aaronson, headmaster of the Roxbury exam school. She allowed students to call their parents to bring them regular clothes or to return home for a quick change without penalties for being tardy.
However, a group of about a dozen seniors refused to change and were not allowed into school and are considered truant.
"It's Halloween and I'm the Wicked Witch," said Garcia-Aaronson, who announced the prohibition the previous day. "It's unfortunate that it's come to this."
Garcia-Aaronson, headmaster of the 1,700-student school for 15 years, said she stopped allowing students to wear costumes two years ago because of safety concerns. Previous students brought water guns to school on Halloween and sprayed classmates, causing fights, she said. Others rolled down school hallways on skateboards.
Last year, Garcia-Aaronson said she let a group of seniors wear costumes during lunch so they could take a group picture for the yearbook. This year's seniors did not ask for that privilege, which she would have granted, she said.
