Posted on 06/15/2006 7:06:24 PM PDT by lexfreedom
A press release was issued by MassResistance, formerly Article 8 Alliance, on Wednesday alleging Jacob Parker, the first-grade son of David and Tonia Parker, was assaulted on the playground at the Estabrook Elementary School on May 17, the two-year anniversary of gay marriage in Massachusetts.
The Parkers are currently suing the Lexington Public Schools for violating their rights because LPS refused to notify parents when homosexuality will be discussed in the classroom.
David Parker was arrested at the Estabrook Elementary School in April 2005 after refusing to leave a meeting with Estabrook Principal Joni Jay and then-Director of Curriculum Andre Ravenelle. At that meeting, he requested notification when any topic around sexual orientation would be discussed in his son’s classroom.
In the release, Brian Camenker, of MassResistance, alleged Jacob Parker was approached during recess, taken to a corner of the play area and assaulted by eight to 10 students. The release also stated the schools had investigated and deemed the assault a "planned and premeditated" attack.
"People are shocked," said Camenker. "Nobody ever imagined it could come to this ... especially in a town which prides itself on tolerance."
Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash said he had no knowledge of the alleged incident, but said he and Jay would be looking into the matter. Ash said if a student was aggressively assaulted on school property the event would "trigger a whole series of actions," from notifying parents, staff, the school psychologist and the Department of Social Services, to filing a report with the police. Ash said the schools would also conduct its own investigation into the incident.
According to the Lexington Police Department, no complaint has been filed and they are not currently involved with an investigation into the incident.
Neil Tassel, the Parkers’ legal counsel, spoke for the Parker family saying they had hoped to keep the incident private. Due to the age of the students involved, they had opted not to go to the police.
"It was a regrettable incident ... but no one was seriously hurt," said Tassel, adding Jacob Parker was "shaken up" by the incident.
Tassel said Jacob has been continuing to attend school at Estabrook for the past month and the Parkers are working with the school to address any additional concerns.
Camenker’s press release, however, does include a statement from David Parker stating his concern for his son’s safety in light of the alleged "premeditated" nature of the incident and questioning whether the schools would respond the same way if the child assaulted had same-sex parents.
Ash said the school policy of response to such instances of violence and bullying is standard for all schools and students.
Camenker said Parker did some "soul searching" before finally coming forward to publicly report the incident adding an "average person ... would be too afraid." He added anyone alleging the Parkers were using their son for publicity were wrong and the situation is "the exact opposite."
"It really scares people this could happen," he said. "Lexington will be looked at with a much closer eye."
Is this orchestrated intimidation to get them to move out of town and drop the lawsuit?
Couldn't the school have just done what Mr. Parker wanted and notified him when the school was going to teach homosexuality? Or couldn't Mr. Parker have just filled out an exemption form to have his son excused when those topics came up?
I had an exemption when I was in school and it was very simple. When they wanted to discuss health and stuff like that, I went to the library. There was no muss, no fuss. Why are they making this such a big deal out of this? Have things changed so much?
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE
September 20, 2005 Over the summer, I have received a number of questions about implementation of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 32A ("Section 32A"). These questions relate to the following provision:
Every city, town, regional school district or vocational school district implementing or maintaining curriculum which primarily involves human sexual education or human sexual issues shall adopt a policy ensuring parental/guardian notification. Such policy shall afford parents or guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from any portion of said curriculum through written notification to the school principal.
In Lexington, curriculum identified by the statute generally begins at the 5th grade level. LPS has, of course, adopted a policy implementing Section 32A, and school staff routinely provide parents with notice and the flexibility to "opt out" of this curriculum.
Recently, questions have been raised as to whether school staff also has an obligation to notify parents and allow "opt out" of other school-based activities, particularly in the elementary grades. For example, some parents have requested they be notified whenever their child has access to any material, conversation, or activity that acknowledges differences in sexual orientation, including any reference to families with same-gender parents. Since elementary curriculum often elicits discussion of family experiences, such references certainly may occur. In addition, our schools routinely provide students with access to materials, activities, and discussions that recognize diversity. This access is designed to assist us in our goal of maintaining an appropriate and respectful educational environment for all students. As required by law and LPS policy, this environment must be free of discrimination based on race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability.
The Massachusetts Department of Education, which is responsible for administering Section 32A, has explained that activities and materials designed to promote tolerance and respect for individuals, including recognition of differences in sexual orientation "without further instruction on the physical and sexual implications" do not trigger the notice and opt out provisions of Section 32A. Under this standard, staff has no obligation to notify parents of discussions, activities, or materials that simply reference same-gender parents or that otherwise recognize the existence of differences in sexual orientation. Accordingly, I expect teachers to continue to allow children access to such activities and materials to the extent appropriate to children�s ages, to district goals of respecting diversity, and to the curriculum.
As this new school year begins, I look forward to working with the Lexington community to provide a positive educational environment for all students.
Paul B. Ash, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools
Does the headline sound fishy to anyone else?
Since when does the media claim that people were "allegedly" assaulted?
As a standard practice they use the word "alleged" when they are naming WHO the suspect is.
But how many other times have they ever cast doubt on WHETHER OR NOT a crime was commited by using the word "alleged"?
Yes, things have changed that much.
Thanks for the ping -include me in any future Parker pings.
More on the Parker story...
Thanks! From now on, make sure you ping DBeers for articles relating to the homosexual agenda, he's got the baton for now.
Note to self - read until the end of the thread before re-stating the obvious.
:-)
LOL! Not in precious Lexington. Riiiiiiight.
Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash said he had no knowledge of the alleged incident, but said he and Jay would be looking into the matter. Ash said if a student was aggressively assaulted on school property the event would "trigger a whole series of actions,"
Like foot-dragging, hushing it up, sweeping it under the rug, finger-pointing, etc.
They've gotten greedy. No one escapes.
As a standard practice they use the word "alleged" when they are naming WHO the suspect is.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bingo! What an astute observation!
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