Posted on 10/20/2005 7:54:59 AM PDT by lexfreedom
Kindergarten Cop
Parent Wages Ideological War After School Gives Son Book About Same-Sex Marriage
BY JAKE TAPPER and AVERY MILLER
"My wife and I have religious beliefs that say to us it's a sin," David Parker said. He's referring to four pages in a book his 5-year-old son was given by his Massachusetts kindergarten teachers.
The book "Who's In a Family" -- included in a "diversity book bag" for students at Estabrook Elementary School -- is about all kinds of families, including multi-racial, single parent, and, to Parker's chagrin, same-sex parents.
There are two main issues in this controversy, which are being debated far beyond the Estabrook school: Is teaching kids about gays and lesbians tolerance or propaganda? And how much control do parents have over what their children are taught?
In several conversations by phone, mail, and e-mail, Parker asked teachers and officials at the school to notify him any time the subject of homosexuality was discussed in class.
"When affirmation and normalization of these lifestyles come up, parents want to know about [it] and have the option to opt out," he said.
Dr. Paul Ash, superintendent of Lexington Public Schools, said the school tried to be accommodating.
"The school department said, 'Look, we'll work with you, but we cannot assure you what a child is going to say and that we can immediately stop a discussion that you find objectionable,'" said Ash. "One of the central units in kindergarten is the discussion of families and we show families of all different types." Ash says the discussions "ended up in an irreconcilable difference."
After one meeting in April, Parker refused to leave the school without that assurance. He was arrested and, after refusing to post the $40 bail, he spent the night in jail.
The school board then obtained a restraining order to keep him off school property.
Last month, the community held rallies both for and against Parker on the Lexington green. Many parents, after all, agree with the school's effort to instill sensitivity in a state where same-sex marriage is legal.
"We try to treat all the families as being equal and being equally valid, and anything short of that is doing a disservice to all of our children," said Laura Tully, an Estabrook parent. "I don't see a middle ground here."
The same can be said for same-sex marriage opponents.
"This is sort of lunacy to have same-sex partners discussed in a first grade or a kindergarten," said Brian Camenker, president of Article 8 Alliance, a group opposing same-sex marriage.
Parker's jury trial for trespassing on school property begins tomorrow. He says the outcome will not stop him from protesting if teachers discuss homosexuality with his son. This is likely to be a controversy coming soon to a school -- or book bag -- near you.
So now the perverts are after kids in Kindergarden.
Well, if it keeps on raining the levee's going to break.....
And right there, they betray the fact that their goal is indoctrination, not education.
This one has an easy answer that will never, ever be used.
School is to teach the 3 R's not socialize the children!
When I went to school, more than a few years ago, the focus was on making sure we were educated, the extent of the socialization was consideration for classmates. That's it.
Now schools want to do both, socialize and educate, and they don't do either very well.
(1) An utterly superficial treatment of the subject matter.
(2) Self-consciously snarky turns of phrase.
(3) Contempt for ordinary Americans.
By simply sticking to these three elements, Tapper has successfully avoided writing anything good, informative or memorable for more than a decade.
His career shows how sheer determination, in the absence of any discernible talent or skill, can achieve consistent mediocrity.
Looks like the school officials think they know what is best to tell Parker's son about, and how to tell him about it too! Parker has the right to teach his children anything he wants to, and I think kindergarten is not the place for young children to learn about two mommies and two daddies raising some child.The idea of teaching this at all is absurd, and Parker should just sue the crap out of the superintendant and principal for allowing this to be done against his religious beliefs. State law in Mass. backs his rights to this, and he ought to go after them personally, and the school board for allowing it. When stuff like this starts being expensive to the people who push it, it will stop!
"Looks like the school officials think they know what is best to tell Parker's son about, and how to tell him about it too! "
I think this is what Hillary meant when she wrote "It takes a Village"?
It's the Socialist/Communist way: "You common people are too stupid to raise your own kids. We'll do it for you, and do it better. It takes a Village".
*barf*
If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.
"Now schools want to do both, socialize and educate, and they don't do either very well."
I am not sure that they WANT to educate. I think the schools look at academics(3 R's) as a loss leader.
It is not surprising that these two rainbow gay agenda pushers would attack a parent trying to protect his son agains gay predators.
Over the years this dubious duo has turned out a lot of articles pushing the gay agenda and mocking anyone standing in the way.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=JAKE+TAPPER+and+AVERY+MILLER+Gay&ei=UTF-8&fr=ybr_sbc&b=1
That's a different way of looking at it... and I might use that thought myself when discussing the benefits of homeschooling. Thanks.
Who added the keyword "racemixing"?
A keyword troll, no longer with us.
LOL! Zot.
The premise of the question is flawed -FIRST one must consider not only what material but at what age sexual education is appropriate for children -this is not a general question the answers necessarily would apply on an individual basis -This first consideration is within the domain of the parent! The social engineering it takes a village crowd seems to be represented by some here on FR -quite distressing to note there are those that have no problem sacrificing the innocence of children at the altar of selfish gratification...
For those interested:
Catholic teaching on the subject:The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality - Guidelines for Education within the Family
Four Principles Regarding Information about Sexuality65. 1. Each child is a unique and unrepeatable person and must receive individualized formation. Since parents know, understand and love each of their children in their uniqueness, they are in the best position to decide what the appropriate time is for providing a variety of information, according to their children's physical and spiritual growth. No one can take this capacity for discernment away from conscientious parents.
66. Each child's process of maturation as a person is different. Therefore, the most intimate aspects, whether biological or emotional, should be communicated in a personalized dialogue. In their dialogue with each child, with love and trust, parents communicate something about their own self-giving which makes them capable of giving witness to aspects of the emotional dimension of sexuality that could not be transmitted in other ways.
67. Experience shows that this dialogue works out better when the parent who communicates the biological, emotional, moral and spiritual information is of the same sex as the child or young person. Being aware of the role, emotions and problems of their own sex, mothers have a special bond with their daughters, and fathers with their sons. This natural bond should be respected. Therefore, parents who are alone will have to act with great sensitivity when speaking with a child of the opposite sex, and they may choose to entrust communicating the most intimate details to a trustworthy person of the same sex as the child. Through this collaboration of a subsidiary nature, parents can take advantage of expert, well-formed educators in the school or parish community, or from Catholic associations.
68. 2. The moral dimension must always be part of their explanations. Parents should stress that Christians are called to live the gift of sexuality according to the plan of God who is Love, i.e., in the context of marriage or of consecrated virginity and also celibacy. They must insist on the positive value of chastity and its capacity to generate true love for other persons. This is the most radical and important moral aspect of chastity. Only a person who knows how to be chaste will know how to love in marriage or in virginity.
69. From the earliest age, parents may observe the beginning of instinctive genital activity in their child. It should not be considered repressive to correct such habits gently that could become sinful later, and, when necessary, to teach modesty as the child grows. It is always important to justify the judgement of morally rejecting certain attitudes contrary to the dignity of the person and chastity on adequate, valid and convincing grounds, both at the level of reason and faith, hence in a positive framework with a high concept of personal dignity. Many parental admonitions are merely reproofs or recommendations which the children perceive more as the result of fear of certain social consequences, or related to one's public reputation, rather than arising out of a love that seeks their true good. "I exhort you to correct, with the greatest commitment, the vices and passions that assail us in every age. For if in some stage of our life we sail on, deprecating the values of virtue and thereby suffer continuous shipwreck, we risk arriving in port devoid of all spiritual charge".
70. 3. Formation in chastity and timely information regarding sexuality must be provided in the broadest context of education for love. It is not sufficient, therefore, to provide information about sex together with objective moral principles. Constant help is also required for the growth of children's spiritual life, so that the biological development and impulses they begin to experience will always be accompanied by a growing love of God, the Creator and Redeemer, and an ever greater awareness of the dignity of each human person and his or her body. In the light of the mystery of Christ and the Church, parents can illustrate the positive values of human sexuality in the context of the person's original vocation to love and the universal call to holiness.
71. Therefore, in talks with children, suitable advice should always be given regarding how to grow in the love of God and one's neighbour, and how to overcome any difficulties: "These means are: discipline of the senses and the mind, watchfulness and prudence in avoiding occasions of sin, the observance of modesty, moderation in recreation, wholesome pursuits, assiduous prayer and frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. Young people especially should foster devotion to the Immaculate Mother of God".
72. To teach children how to evaluate the environments they frequent with a critical sense and true autonomy, as well as to accustom them to detachment in using the mass media, parents should always present positive models and suitable ways of using their vital energies, the meaning of friendship and solidarity in the overall area of society and of the Church.
When deviant tendencies and attitudes are present, which require great prudence and caution so as to recognize and evaluate situations properly, parents should also have recourse to specialists with solid scientific and moral formation in order to identify the causes over and above the symptoms, and help the subjects to overcome difficulties in a serious and clear way. Pedagogic action should be directed more to the causes rather than to directly repressing the phenomenon, and, if necessary, they should seek the help of qualified persons, such as doctors, educational experts and psychologists with an upright Christian sensitivity.
73. The objective of the parents' educational task is to pass on to their children the conviction that chastity in one's state in life is possible and that chastity brings joy. Joy springs from an awareness of maturation and harmony in one's emotional life, a gift of God and a gift of love that makes self-giving possible in the framework of one's vocation. Man is in fact the only creature on earth whom God wanted for its own sake, and "man can fully discover his true self only in a sincere giving of himself". "Christ gave laws for everyone...I do not prohibit you from marrying, nor am I against your enjoying yourself. I only want you to do this with temperance, without indecency, guilt and sin. I do not make a law that you should flee to the mountains and deserts, rather that you should be good, modest and chaste, as you live in the midst of the cities".
74. God's help is never lacking if each person makes the necessary commitment to respond to his grace. In helping, forming and respecting their children's conscience, parents should see that they receive the sacraments with awareness, guiding them by their own example. If children and young people experience the effects of God's grace and mercy in the sacraments, they will be capable of living chastity well, as a gift of God, for his glory and in order to love him and other people. Necessary and supernaturally effective help is provided by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially if a regular confessor is available. Although it does not necessarily coincide with the role of confessor, spiritual guidance or direction is a valuable aid in progressively enlightening the stages of growth and as moral support.
Reading well-chosen and recommended books of formation is also of great help both in offering a wider and deeper formation and in providing examples and testimonies of virtue.
75. Once the objectives of the information to be provided have been identified, the time and ways must be specified, starting from childhood.
4. Parents should provide this information with great delicacy, but clearly and at the appropriate time. Parents are well aware that their children must be treated in a personalized way, according to the personal conditions of their physiological and psychological development, and taking into due consideration the cultural environment of life and the adolescent's daily experience. In order to evaluate properly what they should say to each child, it is very important that parents first of all seek light from the Lord in prayer and that they discuss this together so that their words will be neither too explicit nor too vague. Giving too many details to children is counterproductive. But delaying the first information for too long is imprudent, because every human person has natural curiosity in this regard and, sooner or later, everyone begins to ask themselves questions, especially in cultures where too much can be seen, even in public.
76. In general, the first sexual information to be given to a small child does not deal with genital sexuality, but rather with pregnancy and the birth of a brother or sister. The child's natural curiosity is stimulated, for example, when it sees the signs of pregnancy in its mother and experiences waiting for a baby. Parents can take advantage of this happy experience in order to communicate some simple facts about pregnancy, but always in the deepest context of wonder at the creative work of God, who wants the new life he has given to be cared for in the mother's body, near her heart.
5-year-old kindergartener, same-sex parents?! DUH!
The goal is to get the kids from birth through age 22. It's being done incrementally.
The scary part is that they've made it this far this fast.
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.