SPRINGFIELD — There will be no princesses, pirates or vampires roaming the halls at Springfield's two elementary schools this Halloween.

Citing concerns that dressing up detracts from learning, Michael Davino, superintendent of the Union County school district has barred children from wearing costumes to school next Monday.

"In an effort to minimize the interruption of instruction, and recognizing that students have ample time to celebrate the holiday in costume after school, costumes will no longer be permitted in school on Halloween," reads a letter sent to parents this week from the principals at the James Caldwell and Thelma L. Sandmeier elementary schools.

Frustrated parents — and even some children — spoke against the policy at a recent school board meeting.

Parent Debra Bachman said the edict is stifling and prevents kids from "just being kids."

"My 10-year old daughter was going to be Big Bird from Sesame Street and all her friends were going to be other Sesame Street characters," Bachman said. "I should say she is still going to be — just not at school."

Bachman said that last year, her daughter dressed as a cat and enjoyed a Halloween party with her classmates for the last hour of school. The children played games and enjoyed mostly healthy snacks — pretzels, grapes and cookies.

"Halloween does not detract from learning," Bachman said. "In fact, they could turn it around and make it an educational experience. There is always room for teaching."

Davino could not be reached for comment, but said at this week’s board meeting that dressing in costume should be an activity enjoyed after school.

"I don’t believe that dressing up is something that is necessary to do at school," he said at the meeting, according to the website Springfield Patch. "I do believe it is something you should do with your friends, something you should do with your family and it is something you should do as an activity that has really nothing to do with school or about school."

Board of Education President Pat Venezia said the district determined Halloween had become a social holiday, not an educational holiday and acted accordingly.

"It detracts from the educational day," Venezia said. "I can attest to that. I was once a PTA mom who helped put on those parties. You lose a whole afternoon of instruction, and because kids are anticipating it, you lose part of the morning as well. That’s just how kids are."

Banning Halloween costumes at elementary schools is unusual, though some schools once took a stand against costumes that emulate dangerous characters, said Frank Belluscio, spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association.

"In the past, if a child dressed like a ninja, there might have been some concerns about behavioral issues," Belluscio said. "But these types of concerns have largely died down. We haven’t seen much action on Halloween costumes in recent years."

Acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said the state has no formal policy on Halloween costumes in schools because it is "precisely the type of matter that should be left to local decision-makers."

North Brunswick Superintendent Brian Zychowksi said his district in Middlesex County encourages elementary school children to dress-up, while urging middle and high school students to leave their costumes at home.

"This is one the greatest holidays for our young students. They look forward to it and really get into it," Zychowski said. "By the time you get to middle and high school, there are only so many days for teaching and learning and we want them to focus on that."

High school students in Union Township are also asked not to wear Halloween costumes to school because elaborate costumes with masks and accessories can be disruptive, Superintendent Patrick Martin said.

"Imagine trying to run a chemistry, algebra or history class for students wearing rubber Dracula masks," Martin said. "It’s not about punishing kids or keeping them from having fun. It’s about keeping some education in that day."