Staff/Todd Hull
MABLETON — Mableton resident Kayla Taylor has supersized treats waiting for angels, superheroes, witches and other costumed kiddos who visit tonight — but the trick-or-treaters are going to have to earn them.
Taylor has alerted her neighbors in the Anne Place subdivision that before she hands out her traditional giant-sized Hershey’s bars, kids ages 3 to 5 will have to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and older trick-or-treaters will have to correctly answer one of 10 civics questions.
Taylor thought up the idea about three weeks ago, she said.
“I was getting ready to buy the candy, and I thought, let’s do it a little different this year. Plus, it’s an election year,” said Taylor, a jazz singer.
So far, she says, the reaction from parents and kids has been swell.
“I was kind of nervous people might be upset, but I’ve gotten lots of emails and Facebook tags,” she said. “They’re all supportive.”
Neighbor Kerry Flading said her three children —Elizabeth, 9; Luke, 7; and Katherine, 4 — are happy to oblige.
“I think it’s great, and the kids do too, so that’s even better,” Flading said. “It’s good that it’s coming from somebody other than their parents or teachers.
“She’s really into making sure the kids respect where we live, and be respectful for what soldiers are doing for us,” Flading said. “With her not having children, this is her way of helping the kids and just making sure they’re a little bit patriotic. They all have the utmost respect for her. And I’m glad she makes them earn what they’re getting. That’s a pretty good treat.”
Decorating her house for Halloween is also a treat for Taylor, a 1985 graduate of South Cobb High, but that won’t start until after the neighborhood kids get on the school bus this morning.
“There’s lots of scary ghouls, and lighting, fog, and music,” she said. “When my nieces and nephews were coming to trick or treat, I thought I should do some decorations, so I made tombstones and wrote silly things on them. They thought it was great, so the next year I had to do more. Every year now, some new prop enters the arena.”
Zach Connolly, 15, who lives in the neighborhood and is a sophomore at North Cobb High School’s magnet program, said Taylor “always has one of the best houses for Halloween.”
And the civics questions she emailed — such as “What do we celebrate on July 4?,” “What was the Mayflower?” and “Who gave the Gettysburg Address?” — are no sweat, he said.
“Honestly, I think it’s really good for her to do this,” Zach said. “Most people just open the door and try to hurry it out. She’s trying to interact with kids and is being a lot friendlier.”
And just in case, Taylor does have gummy eyes on standby for kids who can’t say the pledge or correctly answer a question.
“You can’t be a Scrooge to kids on Halloween,” she said.
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I put out Jack-O-Lanterns with a sign "Take one and scram, Happy Halloween" I GET teens KICKING them down the street. And I'm in a nice neighborhood. THIS is the future that will run the country???
The Taylors obviously care about their neighbors...AND some your unfulfilled folks.
Agenda? Get a freakin life you doofus! What...are you 23 and STILL trick or treating???
First off you can't put tidbits of knowledge wrapped around candy. Kids will quickly discard the paper and eat the candy. Really, what kid is going to look a piece of paper and go wow, the capital of Nevada is Carson City. They are going to say why the extra wrapper? and right into the trash.
People have the right to give out candy however they see fit. This country is founded on freedom and to tell someone they are wrong for doing something the way they choose is absurd. She paid for the candy and may distribute as she sees fit. Money earned and taxed.
Being 27th in education why not check to see how her tax money is being put to use? Her tax money pays for your children to go to school. Not to mention the fact that she pays a higher tax rate for your kids to go to school because she doesn't have children of her own to earn her a tax cut. People with children in school should be paying more, not less, since they are using more tax funded services. She is paying for her community's schools and should be able to see how her tax money is going to use. This, of course, isn't her reasoning for doing so, just my opinion on why it shouldn't matter again. This is something fun to help kids learn a little and make it a little different for the kids.
Anyone upset that this may embarrass a kid is really concerned that people will see that they send their kids to school to be taught by someone else and when they come home are told to do their homework and then left to be babysat by the TV or computer until bedtime. They are worried that, in their absence of their child's education, their kid won't know the answer and they aren't sure because they are not a part of their kids education. Sit down with your child once in awhile and make sure they are getting it. This of course is a generalization, but a problem for sure with everyone working longer hours and having long commutes.
Be happy she is even taking part. She could lock her door, cut out the lights, and pretend she isn't home at all. If you don't like what's happening you have the right not to go there. What you feel is right for your child is your choice. It isn't your privilege to tell someone else that she isn't entitled to her rights because you disagree with them. Freedom means freedom for all, no matter what, not just those you agree with and the things you feel are right.
The kids aren't going to care if they get asked a question. They will answer, right or wrong, get a piece of candy regardless and move on to the next house to pick up something else. Kayla would never do anything to try and embarrass a child or exclude them. The children of her neighborhood love her for a reason.
By the way Halloween isn't a kids holiday. In case you didn't read other post that point it out it was a pagan holiday based on the dead returning to the earth for one night and the end of the harvest season and preparation for the new year and the cold winter ahead. The fun commercialized kids holiday we know came about later. So don't say this is just another fun holiday for kids to mindlessly have fun and smash a few gourds after TPing someones house. The more kids are encouraged to have general knowledge the more they will retain it and make use of it.
Why are parents so afraid for their child doing something new? Are they concerned they are going to have to have a conversation with their child about it? Perhaps they will need to sit down and help their child do homework for a change? Children react to your prejudice, they don't have their own until you teach it to them. Encourage them to try, even if they fail.
And on the education point it is a holier-than-thou, not an. An is reserved for silent h sounds such as an hour.
Thank - You Kayla Taylor for caring about today's youth.
I wish my grand kids had you for their neighbor.
You make a difference! You rock!
Why not get them doing some math problems? Or make them read? From a book? (not a Bible.. They get plenty of that already!)
I didn't know US History counted as propaganda. The point is even a basic knowledge of history is suffering so bad these days because everything is some current event that's forgotten in 13 hours. No one learns anything when they can just look it up as needed. Agree with the government or not, if you live here and enjoy the civil freedoms you have then know something of your past and appreciate what you have.
You enjoy the freedom to be able to believe as you choose so don't demonize the government that protects these rights for you. Sure it's flawed, but things could be abundantly worse.
Stopped by her house, the kids loved it and all took part without issue. Every child left with a good haul of candy.
It's not enough to support our country, we have to be made to conform to their religous tenets also. That's why my kids didn't do boy scouts, because it promotes religion and apparently pedophiles. Most of the atrocities in history have been in the name of religion and it continues today.
So the guy was right, it is propaganda at the expense of what has become a kid's holiday.
The kids enjoyed and all had fun with it. I'm certain you are saddened to hear that but the ones that took part had no issue.
Since you are against agendas and so on; this is no business of yours. If your chidren (if you have any) didn't go by Kayla's house, then this is no concern of yours.
And since you are not directly involved in this, shouldn't you keep you opinion to yourself like you are asking Kayla to do? Hypocrite
Guess,under the Taylor rule, no treat..
Glad all I ask my guests, yes guests, to do is have a happy face/smile and say "t or t".
Sorry, but Halloween is not about who knows.
It's a shame that someone actually does something admirable to build patriotism and respect for their country and help reinforce solid values into an otherwise worthless holiday, and these are the responses that the trolls come out with.
Yet another person who believes that the holiday is about getting handouts without the need to actually do anything for it. Gee, there's a parallel here, but I can't seem to put my finger on it.
Clearly people don't realize the tradition behind the saying "trick or treat?" The power is in the kids' hands. Not yours.
These aren't your children and this is not the forum.