Posted on 04/28/2005 6:14:43 AM PDT by worldclass
LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, APRIL 27. Lexington parent, David Parker, was arrested today by the Lexington Police for trespassing at his sons elementary school during a scheduled meeting with the principal and the citys Director of Education over his objections to homosexual curriculum materials and discussions in his sons kindergarten class.
At the meeting, Parker demanded that the school inform him when homosexual subjects are to be discussed with his son, and allow his son not to be included in such activities. He said he would not leave until his request was granted. The Principal and the citys Director of Education both refused his request. They then telephoned the Superintendent of Schools who also refused. Police were called, who told Parker that unless he left the school he would be arrested.
Statement by David Parker(April 27, 2005):
I, David Parker, am the father of a kindergarten student at Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts. Since the beginning of this school year, my wife and I have learned that school materials and discussions about gay-headed households/same-sex union issues have been exposed to the children. There are definitive plans to increase the teacher/staff/adult mediated discussions of these subjects.
We have officially stated on many occasionsto the Lexington school administrationa request that we be notified when these discussions are planned, and want our 6-year-old opted out of such situations when arising spontaneously.
Our parental requests for our own child were flat-out denied with no effort at accommodation. In our meeting on April 27, I, insisted that such accommodation be made and refused to leave the meeting room. I was informed that I would be arrested.
Parker will be arraigned on Thursday, April 28, in Concord District Court at 9 am. This is an unbelievable outrage, said Brian Camenker, a friend and Newton, Mass. parent. Its where last years same-sex marriage ruling has brought us.
For more background information, see www.Article8.org.
I agree that that's a much better plan. A good education is unfortunately going to start costing parents a lot. The "free" government education is beginning to return what it costs to the parents of the child. Unfortunately, it's costing society plenty. Not only in dollars spent but in opportunities missed after these children graduate.
Probably tarantulas on your grandparents porch. I think the residents of Odessa would take exception about being classified as being closer to a New Mexico town. I was raised out there in that icky, ugly sandstormy Permian Basin, actually I kinda like it out there. The sky seems a lot bigger, even with all the sand in the air, but at least it's not smog.
And I have found that also the school administrators welcome and appreciate parental involvement.
I am well aware this more often this is not true in public schools, and know of plenty where it is not true - so I am only speaking from personal experience in my child's school.
I'm a Houston girl born and bred, so anything past Shiner is New Mexico to me. ;)
He should sue and file a complaint of sexual child abuse.
Very easily - the same people who have declared private business to be PUBLIC places make the rules about who is permitted in PUBLIC places.........
Experience tells me that. Anytime government money goes toward anything, the feds eventually get around to controlling how it is spent. On the one hand, it makes sense. None of us wants tax dollars going into something where there is no accountability. That's the upside. But the fact is that restrictions on how money is spent will eventually take place, even if not at the beginning. My husband works at a private college. I realize that's not what we're talking about here, but a recent experience makes a similar point. They got a gov (state) grant for a building that had so many restrictions tied to it that the total cost of the building cost way more than what it would have cost the college with no gov. funds. In that case, they were protecting unions and had building specs that were written by someone who obviously knew nothing about them. Granted, that's not how vouchers work, but do you really think that politicians who hear complaints from their constituents (and there's lots of people who are against this idea) are not going to tweak what this money can be used for? It will gradually and eventually end up with the feds directing the curriculum.
But I have yet to hear that a public school is closed to nonsmoking parents by any community. Was the guy a smoker?
Same here!
I don't know about other schools,but at my Daughters Middle school and my sons High school it holds true!
It also holds true at the Elementary school both attended when they were younger!
In fact the teachers and school administrators encourage it,at least at those schools!
We were poor oil-patch trash when I was growing up and split time living in west Texas and eastern New Mexico. I have a son who lives in Lubbock and loves it, even with the spring sandstorms that are just getting cranked up now.
The principal's email address is jjay@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
Her name is Joni Jay. We should all let her know how we feel about this.
It wwas meant as a joke.........
That's great!
I only have the experience so far with the elementary school, but friends with older kids say it continues up into the middle and high schools here.
We moved from Delaware to Virginia in part because the district we lived in fits every stereotype that can be used about public schools.
Mine too.
I remember years ago reading that the schools were going to start letting the parents be partners in the raising of their children...Orwellian speak to make it clear that the State is the primary "parent" of school children.
LOL!!!
I realized that, but others might not have.
Considering the subject at hand - I figured I should clarify it.
Like you, I have a difficult time accepting a parent being arrested for trespassing at his child's public school. I understand there being restrictions about who is permitted to be roaming around a school building. I have no problem going into the office and signing in when I visit my daughter's classroom........I want them to know who is roaming the halls of the school. But he was not roaming the halls - he was in a meeting. SHEESH.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.