Posted on 09/09/2005 2:55:40 PM PDT by lexfreedom
Rally on the Green By Bethan L. Jones/ Staff Writer Thursday, September 8, 2005
Though the two groups faced off ideologically, they had one thing in common: their concern for education and the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The night before the start of public school in Lexington saw the rallying of both the supporters of Lexington parent David Parker, who was arrested at the Estabrook Elementary School in April over the right to control information to his kindergartner and other Lexingtonians, some allying themselves with Lexington Community Action for Responsible Education and Safety, who support the policies of diversity put forth by the public school system.
Parker supporters held a permitted rally on the Battle Green while LexingtonCARES stood silently on the other side of Massachusetts Avenue, lining from the Buckman Tavern to Meriam Street.
"We're trying to show so many of us parents and residents support all of our children," said Meg Soens, a LexintgonCARES co-chairman.
LexingtonCARES and supporters gathered outside the visitors center at around 4:45 p.m. in anticipation of the Parker support rally beginning at 5 p.m. Armed with signs which read "welcome back to school" and "Lexington supports all families," the 300-strong group spread themselves along Massachusetts Avenue. They also set up a table collecting donations for the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief.
A larger-than-normal police presence could be felt on the Green and in the Center for these events. According to Capt. Charlie Sargent, there were 12 officers on hand, but no arrests or incidents took place. He said the extra coverage cost the town about $2,000.
Across the street, on the Battle Green, approximately 100 people from Lexington and around Massachusetts came to support the Parker family.
"We are here to support David Parker and parental rights in the school system," said Lexington resident Lorraine Fournier.
Lexingtonian Robert Bennett served as the master of ceremonies, blasting the Lexington public schools for its arrest of Parker, who was taken into custody after refusing to leave the property of the Estabrook Elementary School last spring.
He was there to participate in a scheduled meeting with Estabrook principal Joni Jay and then director of curriculum Andre Ravenelle to discuss Parker's concerns about material coming home with his kindergarten student regarding same-sex households.
Bennett did hold a moment of silence for the hurricane victims and survivors.
Bennett, who has put his seven children through the Lexington public schools said the schools had violated the trust of parents by teaching about same-sex marriage and homosexual relationships in school.
"Schools recognize we are the parents," said Bennett. "We will not surrender those rights."
Bennett, Parker and their supporters charge the Lexington Public Schools are not adhering to Massachusetts General Law, which requires schools to notify parents about the teaching of human sexuality and allows parents to opt their student out of the class time without penalty. Parker and Bennett state the teaching of homosexuality falls under the umbrella of human sexuality and students, like Parker's son, should be able to be removed from the discussion of such topics if the parents so desire.
Parker stated, however, that his objection to the material at Estabrook has nothing to do with intolerance but rather age, stating he felt these issues are not appropriate for such young children. He added the subject was also about acceptance, saying people who are gay want so badly to be accepted and feel society "can't value them without accepting their orientation," a claim Parker disputes.
Parker said the restraining order, put in place after his arrest which forbids him from entering any public school property in Lexington without advanced permission, still stands and is working to be "hurtful to my family and make us feel unwelcome."
He added the past months have "brought light to the intolerance which already exists" in Lexington.
"I am part of the diversity of this town," said Parker, adding that role calls for respect.
Before his meeting with Jay, which ended in his arrest for trespassing, Parker appeared before the School Committee and was a member of the anti-bias committee at Estabrook where he said he attempted to have his voice heard. With a wide gap between his views and those of the anti-bias committee, Parker resigned stating the committee was wasting resources on addressing homosexuality rather than racial diversity.
"What do they fear by telling the truth to the parents," said Parker, charging the schools discouraged students from discussing the diversity work done in class. "This is how tyranny is born."
Across the street, Rabbi Howard Jaffe, of Temple Isaiah, walked the long line of LexingtonCARES supporters, checking in and making sure everyone was OK.
"The presence of so many to make a statement is magnificent," he said. "People feel good to come out and feel supportive of our schools."
Pam Hoffman, a LexingtonCARES co-chairman said the great showing "reaffirms the character and values of the town that have been a part of this community for fifty or sixty years."
LexingtonCARES supports the school decision to reject Parker's request for notification, saying it would create a class system of students with non-traditional families feeling their home life was inferior to that of more traditional families.
"We believe in a school system where all children have the right to attend and feel safe," she said.
School Committee Chairman Helen Cohen said that while Lexington respects the rights of parents, it also strives for an inclusive system.
"They're talking about parents' rights which we certainly support," she said. "The right that we are focused on is a school system is where it's the right of any child to feel welcome and safe at school."
Cohen added the schools work to prepare children to be citizens of the world, a world where they will encounter different sexual orientations, religions and races.
"We're here to help children understand, enjoy and learn from experiences," she said.
Parker said he will be sending his son to the first grade at Estabrook this year and still values Lexington's school system.
"The schools here are known to be very good and I still think they're very good," he said.
Standing on the Battle Green, however, he also made his point perfectly clear.
"If they mean to have a war over parental rights ... then let it begin here."
Parker will be in Concord District Court on Sept. 21 for the beginning of his trial on the charge of trespassing.
"They're talking about parents' rights which we certainly support," she said. "The right that we are focused on is a school system is where it's the right of any child to feel welcome and safe at school."
Cohen added the schools work to prepare children to be citizens of the world, a world where they will encounter different sexual orientations, religions and races.
It's disgraceful that a School Committee member would participate in a protest against a parent that was arrested under orders from the school administration. Not even the appearance of impartiality. She should recuse herself from any deliberations on this issue.
For more information, visit:
SUPPORT DAVID PARKER!
You should start a DAVID PARKER ping list.
A ping list is a list of FReepers screen names that are interested. You keep a list so you can ping* them to a particular subject.
*Copy and paste the names into the "To" field when you post a reply.
Sorry, I'm a newbie here. How does one do this? Is this a Freerepublic feature? Or do you just keep the "ping list" manually?
Manually.
First, the next time you post an article about the Parker case.. announce that you are starting a ping list and tell them to let you know if they want on the list and to notify you by FReepmail. thats the Free Republic mail feature, you keep all the screen names of those that subscribe to the pinglist on a wordpad file on your hard drive (make sure you seperate the names with a simi-colon) then when you ping the list just copy and paste all the names on the list in the "To" field above the reply field when making a reply to the thread.
see little jeremiah's freeper page for an example of a ping list. He has all the names on the Homosexual agenda ping list there.
Do not ping anyone unless they request to be added to your ping list.
You can add my name to the list if you decide to start one.
You can also request your name to be added to other ping lists as well.
hope this helps.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1328605/posts
You should FReepmail (Born Conservative) he/she? runs the Public Schools ping list.
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