The Devil Made Them Do It

“What’s next, banning Christmas?” demanded one exasperated parent. Indeed, says Los Altos (Calif.) School District Superintendent Marge Gratiot — Christmas was banned a long time ago, along with Hanukkah and Easter. Parents were reacting to the decision to ban the celebration of Halloween in the district’s four elementary schools after complaints from Christian fundamentalists, who said such parties violate the Constitution’s separation of church — of the devil — and state. “We’re restoring values to the schools,” insisted Phil Faillace, the school board’s president. But faced with hundreds of angry parents, the board voted 4-0 to reverse the ban, and Halloween will return to the Silicon Valley. (AP) ...Why the fuss? No one complained when Christmas, Hanukkah and Easter were banned.