It's interesting that the fight was due to someone sitting in someone else's seat at lunch. In a progressive school with "circles" it sounds rather far-fetched that a student would attack another student over seating.
Note: The priests were attracted to the same sex.
Well, since they actually interviewed all of the principals in the case, I have to assume it's either the truth or so far fetched that it will be quite easy to tear apart. But I have seen first graders get into fights over nothing. But the main thing here is how different this story is than the original one. But would you have ignored your son being dragged away and beaten by several kids in a well planned attack prompted by adults? I doubt it.
Note: The priests were attracted to the same sex.
There are some interesting studies of those attracted to children which show that regardless of their sexual preference (homosexual or heterosexual), both seem attracted to both male and female children. So I'm not sure. But the main point I was making was in asking what this has to do with the issue of what happened on that playground? If it was nothing but a simple fistacuffs between two first graders, fine. The school probably handled it fine. If on the other hand Parker's son was dragged and beaten...etc, then the school mishandled it terribly, and so did Parker.