Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 10/16/1995 All articles from this issue

Comment

printer friendly version

How about some common sense?

A group of well-meaning, but meddling parents has spooked the Los Altos School District into restricting Halloween activities during school hours.

The decision wasn't finalized as of last week, and would affect activities at only two of the district's eight elementary and intermediate schools. But Halloween?

We acknowledge that the board is merely trying to set consistent policy and that issue has been blown out of proportion: officials certainly aren't ripping pumpkin art off classroom walls, as last week's news reports would have you believe.

At the same time, the board's politically-correct policy to separate church and the classroom has opened the door for some parents to show religious correlation in seemingly innocent celebrations like Halloween.

Parents challenged the district last year when they noted a Hanukkah song was included in a holiday music program, despite district intentions to keep religious material off the program. That triggered a painstaking rewrite of school policy that also resulted in the Halloween decision.

Halloween parties will continue at schools despite the change in policy. But all the publicity has no doubt left the kids bewildered. They weren't consulted about this.

We've got to get past pedantic regulations and use some common sense.

For decades, Halloween has been a purely fun celebration. Let's keep it that way.

Where does this splitting-hairs mentality end? Do we not recognize Martin Luther King Day because he was a minister? Do we ban Easter egg hunts? Do we ban all references to all religions and keep children in the dark about religions, this most basic ingredient in cultural diversity?

Schools aren't going to remedy declining morals and family values in today's world by dropping Halloween festivities.

Surely there's a better way.

'Pit' bull death sentence appropriate

On Sept. 19, three "pit" bulls on the loose attacked a Los Altos woman and her dog. A hearing officer, ruling the dogs acted as a pack and represented "a clear and present danger to the public at large," has sentenced the dogs to death.

We sadly agree with the decision. Yes, the animals are acting on primal instincts, but the dogs' owner is the one at fault here. Residents claim the dogs have roamed the Oak Street neighborhood unattended on several occasions.

We believe euthanasia should only be used as a last resort. But we also believe residents should not have to live in fear of these dogs because of a pet owner's irresponsibility.

The owner has not shown he can keep his dogs under control. And the dogs have already made good on their "clear and present danger."

One attack is one too many. As hearing officer James P. Madden remarked, "Their next victim could be a doe, a fawn or a 20-pound toddler."

Impounding the dogs forever certainly is not the answer.

In our view, there is no other reasonable alternative.