Posted on 11/28/2005 5:24:58 AM PST by truthandlife
Massachusetts man who was arrested after objecting to the discussion of homosexuality and transgenderism in his son's kindergarten class is no longer being barred from all school property in the town of Lexington. Nevertheless, he says his dispute with the school district is far from settled.
In April, Lexington parent David Parker was arrested and jailed after refusing to leave Estabrook Elementary School until administrators acknowledged his right to be notified before adults discussed homosexuality and other controversial sexuality issues with his son in class. At the same time, the Lexington schools superintendent issued a ban against him, prohibiting him from setting foot on any school property -- even to drop off or pick up his son or to vote at school facilities that doubled as polling places.
Last month Parker was cleared of all charges when law enforcement authorities opted not to pursue the matter. The district continued, however, to bar him from school property up until last week, when he was informed by letter that the ban against him was being lifted.
Nevertheless, the concerned father says his battle for parental rights continues. "I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm allowed back on school grounds and I won't be arrested," he notes. "However, this whole issue is by no means over. It has not been resolved and, in a sense, it's just beginning."
That is because, even though Lexington Schools Superintendent Paul Ash has dropped the "No Trespass Notice" prohibiting Parker's access to district property, the school official still refuses to allow the schools to notify parents when homosexuality is going to be discussed in the classroom. That is a policy the Massachusetts dad is determined to see overturned.
Superintendent Ash "is hiding behind a misinterpretation of the Parental Notification Law to avoid, basically, telling parents the truth," Parker asserts, "and it's not going to work." According to the state law, he points out, Massachusetts schools are required to adopt and publish policies ensuring that parents and guardians be notified about "any curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues, and permitting them to exempt their children from any portion of that curriculum without penalty."
The Massachusetts law also requires the schools to make instructional materials for such curricula "reasonably accessible to parents, guardians and others for inspection and review." Still, Parker contends, Superintendent Ash continues to trample parental rights by refusing to comply.
"Parents absolutely have the right to be aware of how and when discussions of homosexuality, transgenderism, and gay relationships are being affirmed and validated in the minds of their own children," the embattled parent says. "The schools claim that they want to partner with parents, but good faith partnering of schools with parents requires giving the information to the parents when those parents make their requests known."
In dropping the ban against Parker, Ash wrote him a letter suggesting that he "avoid disrupting the school environment and operations." But considering the fact that Parker was cleared of the criminal trespassing charge leveled against him, the Lexington father feels the letter is defamatory and says he may file a lawsuit against the school superintendent.
Father's rights? In Mass? What does the other father have to say about this? :p
It'd be nice to here he was getting some backing from other parents. What, is the whole state filled with parents who think this is OK? Who think that the school district can tell them how to raise their own children. I live in a small town in NY and a high school health teacher in our district tried to push some liberal health ideas here and really caught heck for it. Parents complained and she was severely chastised for it. But then again, this is the district where the kids have the day before Thanksgiving off cause it's hunting season.
The father here is right, but the sad fact is that even if he sues and wins, the guilty parties will never be held accountable. It would be the rest of us who would have to pay for their transgressions.
It sounds to me as though school environment and operations need more disrupting if they are teaching kindergarteners about homosexuality ... but I'm just old fashioned like that.
Can anyone tell me how it is useful in any grade level to teach anything about the subject of homosexuality? Outside of possibly mentioning it in a history class (although I've yet to come up with a good example) I don't understand why the issue ever needs to come up in K - 12.
The only time there will ever be "father's rights" in Massachusetts is if it would be a gay couple.
They were clever to drop the case. The left works much more effectively by stealth. I had been looking forward to a court battle over this.
My theory (no facts): school Adminins and Super are homos.
This really isnt about a Fathers rights: Its about parental rights.
When the school tries to hide what they are teaching and when they are teaching it, I believe it is self-evident that they know they are in a gray area. That they are teaching subjects that most parents are in opposition to.
It is the parents who should have the upper hand in deciding the subject matter at sex education classes, not some liberal educators who make decision about other peoples kids.
What ever happened to the 3 R's ?. If the teachers today cant teach , Reading Riting, and Rithmetic how can we expect them to teach kids how their sex lives should be lived.
>>the guilty parties will never be held accountable.<<
Perhaps not here, but definitely in the hereafter.
"..but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6
Indeed it should be; they pay legislators to legislate don't they? Change the law! They also might think of firing the School Board while they are at it...........
This was the "rubber band" test of the school administration, IMO. They stretch the limits until someone (naturally) raises the issue publicly. Then the admins relax and let it snap-back once they've been exposed.
But next time they try it, it'll be a little looser and they'll get away with a little bit more.
A creeping and insidious threat by incrementalism.
"In dropping the ban against Parker, Ash wrote him a letter suggesting that he "avoid disrupting the school environment and operations." But considering the fact that Parker was cleared of the criminal trespassing charge leveled against him, the Lexington father feels the letter is defamatory and says he may file a lawsuit against the school superintendent."
A litigious guy looking to re-start a fight after the other side tries to de-escalate. This guy is acting like an ass. An elementary school is not an appropriate setting for a political sit-in or protest of any type. The Town Meeting is a fine forum for this grievance. There are many others.
:-) I guess I was focussing on the backlash of civil lawsuits against public officials.
The issue began when his child brought home a book (which Parker should have been informed of) that discussed non traditional families, including those of gays and lesbians. He began an ordeal with the school resulting in demands that whenever any discussion ever takes place in the classroom about homosexuality, that he be first informed and then permitted to remove his children.
The school felt it could not agree because his demand included the possibility of impromptu questions by students which could not be addressed.
Mr. Parker had many options at the time which included home schooling, transfer to another school, agreeing to the original offer of the school, and simply providing guidance to his children that would counter any conceived "positive" view of homosexual families.
Instead he chose to reject any reasonable alternative in order to bring the issue to the forefront. He was less concerned for his children's well being than for his own political agenda. This resulted in the original offer of the school to be reascended, his children subjected to continual ridicule, jail for himself, banning from the school (since lifted), and no opportunity to work through the school board to try and change the curriculum.
I am not a proponent of same sex unions or families, but the fact is they are here to stay, and the best thing we can do is to guide our own families in the right direction, knowing that many things taught in schools today will defy our values and standards. Parental guidance is always the best way to counter liberal teachings.
No? But it evidently is the perfect place for leftist transgenderism and homosexual indoctrination for kindergardeners.
I understand about cities being liberal. They tend to run the state. We simply can't outvote NYC on state and federal issues and it gives the whole state a bad name.
I never heard it called the Rubber band test but it certainly is apt and I have seen it in action./
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