Parental Rights vs. Public Schools

Fox News ^ | August 10, 2005 | Wendy McElroy

[vrwc0915]

David Parker (search) of Lexington, Mass., is scheduled to go on trial on Sept. 21 for asking his son's public school to provide parental notification before discussing homosexuality with the 6-year old. The actual charge is criminal trespassing. But the real issue is whether parents or schools will control the teaching of values to children The conflict began on Jan. 17, when Parker's then-5-year-old son brought home a Diversity Bookbag from kindergarten. Included was Robert Skutch's "Who's In a Family?" that depicts families headed by same-sex couples. Parker had wanted to decide for himself the timing and manner in which his son was introduced to the subject of homosexuality. (The Bookbag is supposed to be a voluntary program but the Parkers knew nothing about it in advance.) Parker immediately e-mailed the Estabrook school principal, Joni Jay (search). Parker expressed his belief that gay parents did not constitute "a spiritually healthy family"; he did not wish his son to be taught that a gay family is "a morally equal alternative to other family constructs." Parker acknowledged the equal rights of gays but objected to "the 'out of the closet' and into the kindergarten classroom mentality." In essence, Parker highlighted the difference between tolerance, which acknowledges someone's right to make a choice, and acceptance, which is the personal validation of that choice. The conflict moved quickly from the Diversity Bookbag (search) to the more general issue of parental notification. The Parkers wanted to know if sexuality was scheduled to be discussed in class so they could remove their son. They also wanted their son removed from any "spontaneous conversations" about sexuality that involved an adult.

[ConservativeWarrior]

Where Catholic priests walk the halls....hmmmm. May not be such a good idea either.

Oh, I get it. You're trying to be funny. I'm sure all the FR Catholics appreciate your hilarity. You're a riot.

[Txsleuth]

You have a point----sigh

[WoodstockCat]

You're spot on Peach.
Watch your state legistlature's education committee very closely.
The votes are getting closer to require home schoolers to document more and more and get closer and closer to requiring the pro-gay agenda to be taught by home schoolers.
IMHO they will try to proceed like this:
The state education committee after a couple of years of implementing this will claim they have no way of really knowing if every student is fairly getting true exposure to diversity and the only way to ensure that is to allow a third party to teach it on behalf of the state.
Don't worry, they'l say, you can still teach your child at home, we just need them for these "special sessions" to ensure fairness and make sure they understand diversity.

[AD from SpringBay]

What would happen if a public school teacher shot one of her students? And when I ask, “What would happen?” I’m referring to all sorts of things. Of course someone would be injured; there would be an arrest and a trial. There would be lots of media coverage. Certainly it would draw attention to the role of guns, violence, and possibly some background on the teacher. There would be an outraged group of parents. The school administration would have to make a statement and be prepared for a lawsuit. And if it were a one-time event, that would be about it.

So what might happen if during one school year a dozen teachers, across the nation, shot a dozen or more students? I hate to use the word frenzy, but it does come to mind. It would be tragic and there would be all kinds of appeals and discussions at all kinds of levels. I’m sure someone would petition Congress to do something. There would be widespread calls for stricter gun control. Background checks and psychological profiling of potential teachers would be on the table. There would be greater calls for home schooling. Demands would be made from parents’ organizations about safety, metal detectors, and classroom monitors.

And then there’s the media. Just imagine the headlines and the magazine covers. Think what Oprah and Dr. Phil might do. Who would they have on as guests and what might their topics be?

Well, there haven’t been that many shootings, but something like this is happening. On an almost weekly basis public school teachers across the country have been arrested for having sexual affairs with one or more students.

Why aren’t we seeing a response from the NEA when it comes to the topic of public school teachers being sexually involved with their students? Or, why is the NEA so concerned with teaching children about homosexuality while ignoring its own sexual predators?

[lexfreedom]

And then go to:

http://davidparkerfund.org

to support the Parkers!

This is going to be a long, drawn out, EXPENSIVE, legal fight.

[tuffydoodle]

pinging sharn

[Aggie Mama]

Well we had our oldest in public school for kindergarten. I thought that since we were in a heavily republican area of Texas that we would be immune from all of this craziness with public education. I was wrong. During his first year he was:

-Shoved in the bathroom on his 2nd day of school which caused him to smash his head on the tile wall.

-Told that he needed to be on Ritalin for ADD (my son's doctor was ready to go to bat for us and fight this if necessary).

-Sent to the principal's office for defending a smaller boy who was being harassed by transient children.

-Cramped in a classroom of 24 other 5 yr olds.

Needless to say, we took him out of public school at the end of kindergarten. We now have him in a Catholic school and we all couldn't be happier. It is definitely a financial sacrifice and I get hacked off that all of the money that we are paying in school property taxes is being flushed down the drain, but I don't have to worry anymore when I drop him off at school. I worried every day when I sent him to public school.

The sad thing is, I went to public school about 20 minutes away from where we are at right now and I had a great education, but things have definitely changed.

[Pio]

Where Catholic priests walk the halls....hmmmm. May not be such a good idea either.

The locus of child sexual abuse today occurs at public schools. Re-read the news articles about the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and you will find that it all came from the 1970s & 1980s. (Ref Father Porter & Father Geoghan)

[JZelle]

Thanks Peach. This really scares the crap out of me!

[HungarianGypsy]

This is why it's so silly. My son knows mostly public schooled children. I remember a bully situation not long ago. I told him he had more power dealing with this in his won front yard. He couldn't just not deal with it and close the door if he had to see the kid every day. At that time he had said, "Then why would I want to go?" I am guessing he is looking for things to be more "stuctured" timewise and the little differences. It's funny how kids who hate school suddenly start talking about how "cool" their school is once they find out my kids are homeschooled.

[ConservativeWarrior]

Where Catholic priests walk the halls....hmmmm. May not be such a good idea either.

Nah, Net, I think I'll keep the conversation right here, but nice try moving things to private mail to save face.

You made an ignorant comment publicly, and I called you on it publicly. BTW, I didn't bother reading past the first line of your mail, so save your lecture for someone that values your opinion.

[kimmie7]

This is not said in a doubing way, but a genuinely inquisitive way...could you please provide me with any links you may have??

Otherwise, this is a happy homeschooling mom BTTT!

[YHAOS]

That's OK. Thanks for the courtesy of your reply.

[gidget7]

I think Mr. Parker intends to take it as far as he has to! I went to support at the last hearing, and I wish you could have seen the homosexual activists, and how vicious they were, also how aggressive in getting the media's attention, getting statements to the media. They are quite vile!

They actually had one teacher (activist teacher) choking up on camera, saying the poor little child who has 2 moms, she can't talk about it at school? We are suppose to just whisk this man's child out of the classroom whenever the subject comes up? They are soooooo good at acting the victims!!

[gidget7]

You're right Peach, and the ACLU is right there, with them, and representing them.

[bk1000]

"The NEA is trying to force state governments to require both home schoolers and private schools to teach pro gay agendas or refuse to validate their diplomas."

Sounds like some NEA admin types are a little light in the loafers.