Posted on 10/27/2005 5:51:21 PM PDT by lexfreedom
It was a quiet end to what has been an involved and controversial issue in Lexington.
David Parker, the Estabrook Elementary School parent arrested in April after refusing to leave school property, was given pre-trial probation after the Middlesex County District Attorney's office and Parker's lawyers agreed to resolve the case out of court.
Parker will be on probation for one year. If he maintains the conditions of the probation, which include not violating all lawful orders, the complaints against him will be dismissed.
Under the agreement, the no trespass order from the school department still stands. After his arrest, then-Superintendent of Schools William Hurley put into effect a no-trespass order, barring Parker from any Lexington Public School property without prior permission from the superintendent. New superintendent Paul Ash has been maintaining the order. Parker's attorney Jeffery Denner said they are working to get the order removed soon.
By avoiding trial through the mutual agreement, Parker assumes no guilt for his actions in April. His probation is due to end on Oct. 19, 2006.
"We're very, very happy," said Denner outside the courtroom while Parker registered for probation.
Denner said he and attorney Neil Tassel were involved in extensive negotiations with the DA's office to resolve the case out of court. Denner added while the criminal complaint is settled, they are still looking at options including a civil case against the Lexington schools. Denner did say the Estabrook has been "very accommodating" during the process.
"The issue is the process involved and how decisions are made," said Denner.
Parker was arrested at Estabrook on April 27 after he refused to leave a meeting at the school with Principal Joni Jay and then-Director of Curriculum Andre Ravenelle.
Parker had attended the meeting to discuss the issue of homosexuality in his son's kindergarten classroom. Parker objected when his son brought home a voluntary diversity book bag containing, among other items, the book "Who's in a Family," which depicted different kinds of families including same-sex parents.
Parker wanted the ability to opt out of such material, claiming it falls under Massachusetts General Law which allows parents to remove their children from classes with sexual content. The Department of Education and the Lexington Public Schools maintain that option is only in relation to sexual education, not social issues around personal choice.
When Jay and Ravenelle said the schools would not be able to meet Parker's demands, Parker refused to leave the school building. He continued to remain even after two Lexington police detectives arrived and explained the consequences if he did not leave peacefully. Parker was eventually arrested and spent the night in the LPD before appearing in Concord District Court.
His arrest has shined a national spotlight on Lexington. The Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas protested at Estabrook and Lexington High School graduation in June and school officials have receives hundreds of e-mails and phone calls regarding what should be taught in schools. With all the attention, however, life inside the classroom has not changed. Nor has the content of the diversity book bags which still have the book "Who's in a Family."
Outside the courthouse, supporters of both Parker and the Lexington Public Schools stood with signs, waving at passing cars.
"The line that's been crossed is the indoctrination of elementary students," said Lexington resident Robert Bennett who helped to organize the pro-Parker rally on Sept. 6 on the Battle Green, the day before LPS opened for the new school year. "[Elementary students] are being taught homosexual households are equal to heterosexual and I disagree ... it's a value call."
"Lexington is a great town to live in. We all moved there for the schools," said Pam Hoffman, a co-chairman of the group Lexington CARES. "We're glad now this is over and we can get back to the job of educating our children, keeping them safe and making them feel welcome and included."
Wrong! The agreement with the DA had no bearing on the school's unilateral restraining order. There is no justification for continuing to BAN David Parker from ALL Lexington public school property without prior, special permission. This is retaliation and singling him out for daring to stand up to the government school system.
Support David Parker ! Visit:
I would be in absolute horror to think that some fool in school was going to tell my small child what a gay , homosexual, or perverted parent is. No such a school need to exist.
"...after the Middlesex County District Attorney's office and Parker's lawyers agreed..."
Now why has the Lexington Minuteman left the name of Middlesex County DA Martha Coakley, the future AG, gov & president of the United States, out of this article? Martha might have taken a stand. Instead, she keeps a low profile rather than "offend" someone.
In the meantime...if that were my child, there would be hell to pay if they came home with the slightest scratch or the teacher gave them the slightest funny look!
The game can be played both ways.
The real question is why he isn't homeschooling. (Or the rest of the parents in the district). How do they rationalize their turning their children over to the State to be brainwashed as war is waged against their beliefs and values?
But I will admit that private school is the "easy" way out. Homeschool isn't as easy because of all the effort involved, but instead of taking our kids out of the system...we should be fighting it and demanding something better. Eh...easier just to write the check. I admire Parker. He's fighting.
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