Halloween — Trouble or treat?

For some children the Halloween holiday is a close second to Christmas and a little better than a birthday. After all, they get to dress up like a hero, a monster or a ghoul, loot the neighborhood for treats and even take their clever costumes to school to show off.

But Halloween doesn't have the same appeal for some Utah educators.

Lincoln Elementary in inner-city Salt Lake took the ax to the All Hallows Eve traditional festivities to make room for more instruction time.

Historically Lincoln has celebrated the day like most other schools contacted — a Halloween parade where students march through the school modeling their costumes for parents and other students, Halloween activities and a sugar-fest party at the end.

But not this year.

The celebration is usually held on Fridays, when there is only a half day of school.

But this year Halloween falls on a Monday. And while some parents, students and teachers might take it hard, overall, Lincoln teachers and administrators decided a costume parade and the lingering buzz would sacrifice far too much instruction time.

So they are holding low-key class parties at the end of the day instead.

"Title I schools don't have the luxury of having as many enrichment activities as non-Title I schools," which don't get extra funds because of poverty, Lincoln principal Shannon Andersen said.

"There are 180 days of school, and some days are lost to testing and other holidays so there are really only around 165 for actual instruction. When you measure what must be learned in that time, you have to cut out many of the thrills because learning to read is more important."

Several other Utah schools have sidestepped class-time celebrations.

Davis elementaries such as Tolman, J.A. Taylor, Canyon Heights and Hannah Holbrook are hosting after-school carnivals.

Columbia Elementary in Kaysville has traded the traditional Halloween parade for "Storybook Day," where students dress up as their favorite fictional characters.

And Granite District's Woodrow Wilson Elementary is ducking out entirely. It just happens to be on break through Nov. 7, student achievement specialist Chris Taylor said.

It's just as well, he said.