David Parker, at odds with his community

Boston Globe ^ | December 22, 2005 | Tania Ralli

[lexfreedom]

David Parker says the past year has made him think more than ever about what it means to be a good father. He wants what's best for his two young sons, but it has put him at odds with the community in which he lives. ''We have to know what other adults are saying to our children," Parker said during a recent interview in his Lexington home. He and his wife, Tonia, felt their son's school was not upfront about presenting topics that the Parkers deem contentious in his kindergarten classroom. In January, their youngest son brought home a "diversity book bag," which included a book depicting same-sex couples. The Parkers said they never received two school notices about the bag, which also included puppets and recipes for ethnic dishes. The Parkers said that according to their Christian beliefs, homosexuality is a sin. They support teaching their children tolerance for all people, but they said topics like homosexuality are too confusing to explain to young children. ''You would think from some media accounts that, when I saw the book, I ran out of the house with my hair on fire. It isn't about a book," Parker said. ''It's about the school taking the position that they're not going to give us information that we need to guide our child through controversial and debatable social issues." During an April meeting at the school, during which Parker hoped to opt his son out of discussions about families with same-sex parents, he was arrested for trespassing. Parker refused to leave until school officials made assurances that they would comply with his wishes. Officials did not agree to pull the child out of class discussions deemed inappropriate by the Parkers. ''When it comes to my children and the discussion of these topics,

[lexfreedom]

''When it comes to my children and the discussion of these topics, I have got to know how they're doing it and when they're doing it. And that's what we asked for," Parker said. The case has attracted national attention. Various groups -- mostly conservative -- have invited Parker to address the issue of what schools are teaching children today. This fall, he and his wife made a television advertisement sponsored by the Coalition for Marriage, a group that urged Maine voters to repeal a state law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. The ad pictured the couple in their living room as Parker said, ''When I objected to my 5-year-old being exposed to pro-homosexual curriculum in school, I was arrested and jailed. You know, they say they won't discriminate, but they discriminated against us. Please, protect your right to protect your children, while you still have it." Parker said he made the ad because he stood against the Maine law. (It was not repealed in the November election.) ''I'm concerned with codifying transgenderism and homosexuality into written law, since it is interpreted as a validation and affirmation of these choices and lifestyles," he explained. In his opinion, the laws are then ''leveraged to normalize these lifestyles and choices in schools beyond the parents' reach without notification, and if necessary, against their will." Parker feels the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts has curbed his rights as a parent. Because gay marriage is legal, he said, it is harder for him to raise questions about mentions of it in school. Parker won't disclose details about his profession or educational background because the issue is about him as a father. He said that he and his wife have no history of activism and that his beliefs excluded him from the community. After his arrest he was banned from school property for seven months and could not drop off his children at school or attend committee meetings. As a result, Parker said, he could not defend himself to the school community. ''It was easier for them to believe that I was hateful and bigoted and a homophobe than to sit down and have a discussion with me," he said. Lexington school officials did not return phone calls seeking comment for this article. Parker said he does not hate gay people, but he disagrees with their choices. Moreover, he said, his son was too young to learn about homosexuality at age 5. ''The fact is this: parents do not give unfettered and unmonitored access to the psyches of their children. Teachers and the school [administrators] are accountable to the parents of the children," Parker said. The Parkers said their beliefs are not welcomed in Lexington. ''It's not the welcoming and respectful community that they presented themselves to be," he said. ''They broke a promise to us." They plan to keep asking the school for specific information about what's being discussed in the classroom. Parker said. ''This has not been resolved. And it's by no means over."

[lexfreedom]

Support David Parker ! Visit:

www.davidparkerfund.org

[Ninian Dryhope]

They need to move to Texas and homeschool their kids. Problem solved. No fuss, no muss, no hassles.

Lot's of praying and lots of guns in our homeschool and our daughter turned out great. No piercing, no tattoos, no heavy metal music, no rap music, no grungy boyfriends.

She is a senior at Rice University majoring in Chemical Engineering and she already has a good job offer with an international firm at a local facility.

[OldFriend]

Welcoming and respectful to perverse ideas. Traditional values, not welcome.

[martin_fierro]

David Parker, at odds with his community

And how.

[6SJ7]

The Parker's only recourse is to convert to Islam. The loony left school district would then never dare to disrespect his choice on how his children are raised.

[NapkinUser]

Why is it when you hear or read about crap like this happening in our government schools, it's almost always either in New York, Massachusetts or California?

A kindergarten-aged student getting a "diversity bookbag"? What the hell?

[nina0113]

The battle for the schools is lost. All he can do is save his own kids. Private school or homeschool.

[Adder]

Some years ago several towns and counties legalized marijuanna use. But just because it was legal did not mean that kids were taught about it in school. Alcohol is legal. Kids are not taught about how wonderful it is in school either. So just because 'mo marriages are legal in MA does not mean that it should be mentioned/taught or supported in schools.

[beyond the sea]

David Parker, at odds with his community

........ especially after a guy threw a battery at him at Three Rivers Stadium. It turned into 'Assuault and Battery Night'. He had to wear a hard hat out in the outfield.

[upchuck]

This article is pretty one sided. In the interest of "fair and balanced," I'd like to hear the other side's story.

But I do agree 100% with David Parker's position.

[Gay State Conservative]

The moral of this story? The Parkers are "at odds" with their community and it is they,not the "community",that's crazy.

Massachusetts is a lost cause,ladies and gentlemen.Trust me on this!

[sgtbono2002]

Gee Whiz folks. If queers are born that way, why are they constantly trying to recruit kids as young a 5 or 6 years old in our schools? They are a sick bunch of puppies and what is even sicker is the teachers and school boards are helping them do it.

[kentj]

You much more support than you know - keep makeing noise we are with you.

[King Moonracer]

F Lexington. The cops there have always been pricks, and obviously the faggoty-Massholes are in charge of the school system. I wish David Parker well, but move to NH. The liberal idiots are not as entrenched...yet. God have mercy on our souls.

[rlmorel]

Don't forget Wisconsin...Madison seems to be pretty dang liberal for being in the middle of the country...

[kindred]

[Parker said he does not hate gay people, but he disagrees with their choices. Moreover, he said, his son was too young to learn about homosexuality at age 5. ''The fact is this: parents do not give unfettered and unmonitored access to the psyches of their children. Teachers and the school [administrators] are accountable to the parents of the children," Parker said.]

I to don't hate gays, but I do hate the sin of homosexuality, the Lord called it abomination and abomination it is. Liberalism is the casting off of all healthy social norms that keep people from abusing themselves and others.
The public school systems are now part of the left wing homosexual indoctrination and recruitment centers and are a refuge of ungodly teachers and parents whose war is against God, family, and country; the political party that represents these perverse and decadent people is called the democrat party and is full of those who hate those who are good and lead moral lives and want their children to do the same. I pray that the Lord will destroy todays godless and immoral school system's before they destroy all our children and make fascists and perverts out of them also. Mr.Parkers family is an example of what is coming to the red states through and by evil liberalism.
Schools used to teach children history,reading,writing,science,math, and music. Now they are fascist pervert mind control centers for the destruction of God and family and will bring nazism and or communism in to America. People had better stand up and start fighting against these monsters and beasts who control the government schools, it may already be to late.

[Nebr FAL owner]

This is taking place in the Kennedy fiefdom of the peoples socialist republic of Massachusetts. I frankly am surprised that they aren't giving presentations from NAMBLA to the kids.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Not just sick; pathological. It is a virulent disease.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Surely this is not the same Dave Parker, is it?