Netflix’s most viewed show Squid Game may depict popular children’s games, however, US schools have stopped the students from sporting the notorious green and pink jumpsuits on campus.
Fayetteville-Manlius School District Superintendent Dr. Craig Tice said that at least three elementary schools operating in New York have placed a ban on Squid Game costumes for Halloween owing to the “violent messages aligned with the costume,”
In an email announcement, Tice said, “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”. He further added that the show is “intended for mature audiences”.
The plot of Squid Game revolves around a number of impoverished people desperate enough to risk their lives while competing in deadly children’s games in order to win a huge cash prize. The show has become the most viewed Netflix show of all time despite showing psychological cruelties and brutal death games.
As per Netflix, the show is intended for “mature audiences” and “may not be suitable for ages 17 and under” owing to “language, violence, sex, nudity, suicide, smoking”.
Tice says the pop culture phenomenon has still found its way to recess. He explained the decision made by the Fayetteville-Manlius School District saying that the ban was put in place after staff members observed students “mimicking” the violent games depicted in the show.
In the statement, Tice said, “Some of our younger students are talking about and mimicking aspects of the show/game at school…Parents and guardians … 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 said that other Halloween costumes that can be “too gory or scary” or the ones which include weapons, like toy guns and swords, have also been prohibited.
Another school district in Panama City, Florida, has followed in the footsteps and informed parents that students are trying to “hurt each other in the name of this ‘game’”.
Bay District Schools earlier this month posted on Facebook writing, “Some children are trying to replicate show scenes at school but what sounds harmless (who didn’t play Red Light/Green Light as a kid?) is not actually harmless because the game in the television show includes ‘elimination’ (death) and we are seeing kids trying to actually hurt each other in the name of this ‘game’”.
