Posted on 06/22/2006 10:01:45 AM PDT by JSedreporter
Just over a year ago, David Parker was arrested for trespassing onto school property. Parker, whose son was a kindergartner at the time, was on site to meet with the school’s principal and Lexington’s Director of Education to discuss his objections to the school teaching his child about homosexuality and transgender without his consent.
In a statement made after his arrest, Parker explained the situation, “We have officially stated on many occasions—to the Lexington school administration—a request that we be notified when these discussions are planned, and want our 6-year-old opted out of such situations when arising ‘spontaneously.’”
“Our parental requests for our own child were flat-out denied with no effort at accommodation. In our meeting on April 27, I insisted that such accommodation be made and refused to leave the meeting room. I was informed that I would be arrested.”
According to Parker’s opponents at LexingtonCares.com, “He claimed he had the right to do this based on the state's sex education opt-out law. The school officials explained to Mr. Parker that the materials and situations in question were not covered by that law and that there was no practical way to implement his request in any case.”
Parker spent a night in jail for his actions. While being arraigned, Parker told the judge that he had not been given the opportunity to call his lawyer. The judge reprimanded him and set a $1,000 bail. He was then told he was not allowed onto any school property. The order has since been lifted.
In the past year, Lexington has erupted into chaos. A new school superintendent issued an order to teachers telling them not to inform parents about their children being taught about homosexuality. Peaceful protests by Parker supporters have turned ugly as gay and lesbian organizers as well as liberal-minded officials have disrupted them. In one case, the police barred Parker from speaking to the media at his own protest, because they feared the crowd would turn worse.
If this was not bad enough, The Massachusetts News reported that Parker’s son, now in first grade, has been a victim of a premeditated assault because of his father’s views. The paper, as well as others, quickly noted that this attack falls just days before the two-year anniversary of the legalization of gay marriage in the state.
The school has tried to play down the vicious attack. The aide, who had to be informed of the attack by a little girl on the playground, did not send Parker’s son to the nurse because she supposedly did not see any blood on him. None of the assailants were suspended.
According to the paper, the school has two articles about David Parker framed in the library for all children to see. The Massacusetts News also noted that, “Estabrook Elementary School is proud of its long-time involvement in various ‘Safe School’ programs that make the schools ‘safe’ for homosexuality but dangerous for anyone with a different viewpoint. The current rage there is the ‘Open Circle’ program, which has ties to GLSEN.”
While Parker has little to no support in Lexington, he has the support of the governor. Governor Mitt Romney made a televised statement the day after Parker’s arrest, saying, “We have in Massachusetts a parental notification statute specifically in matters related to human sexuality. If a parent wants to be informed of what is being taught in a classroom and wants to have their child withdrawn from the classroom for that portion of the class dealing with human sexuality, that parent has the right.”
Matthew Murphy is an intern at Accuracy in Academia
Welcome to FR.
Why isn't this assault getting more attention from the enemedia?
You answered your own question...they're the "enemedia." They never met a homosexual activist that they didn't like. They will always take their side, even over something as common-sense as parents' inalienable rights to pull their children out of sex education.
}:-)4
I am trully glad I moved from the gay state.
Massachussetts was the place where Liberty had its birth in this nation and I find it ironic that it is also the first place in this nation where Liberty has died.
Silly question......
I know. I was just posing the question to the newbie.
This is truly disturbing. Since when do elementary school kids need to learn about "human" sexuality? And since when is it anyone elses business besides the parents to teach the kids about it?
So much for accuracy in academia. I would urge Matthew to try a course in "Ethics in Reporting 101" for starters.
If you have a credible source that states otherwise I'd be more than interested in reading it.
Well,there's a silver lining to this dark cloud.Massachusetts is one of only three states that have *lost* population in the last few years...New York and Rhode Island are the other two.
The semi-literate mayor of Boston was on the tube just last night challenging the stats released by the Census Bureau indicating that Boston has lost about 10% of its population in the last few years.
This report mischaracterised the arrest, the night in jail, no lawyer, the premeditated assault by those who didn't like Parker's views, the statement by the aid concerning not sending the boy to the nurse, and the letter by Romney concerning the issue of human sexuality, which is not being taught in any case in the lower grades.
I don't think someone referencing accuracy in reporting should simply report something given without some research, regardless of what one would actually believe after seeing the very divergent stories.
The links you want will be found on the other 8 or 10 David Parker threads here. Take care.
I don't consider liberal websites and most of the main stream media credible.
Statements by the police chief and the district administrator who interviewed the boys involved, the schoolground aids, the teachers all reflect a completely different story.
I recently started reading the Parker threads and haven't seen anything from the police chief nor any local authority other than some rep from the school.
You said:
This report mischaracterised:
What is your source for comparing the discrepancies and why do you find that source more credible than the article in question?
Homosexual discussions.
Sounds like sex instruction to me and, therefore, covered by the opt-out provisions of the law.
As to implementing his request, they simply don't want to do it. They want unrestrained opportunity to propagandize children about deviant sexual practices and the unnatural social arrangments which result.
I question them as well. But if they provide actual interviews or statements as opposed to those who don't, then some type of value judgment must be made. Weigh both, because many alleged conservative sites are very guilty of slanting the story too.
the arrest
The arrest was described by both the school and the police at the time. After fruitless attempts at getting Mr. Parker to leave, the school called the police, who sent two detectives. They asked Parker several times to leave and he refused saying, "I will only leave if under arrest". They obliged him.
the night in jail
Parker refused bail.
no lawyer
Parker made several phone calls before the arrest, and a number of protesters met them at the jail. If the lawyer wasn't one of them, it's Mr. Parker's fault.
the premeditated assault by those who didn't like Parker's views
There is zero evidence that any assault took place. According to the teachers, school-ground aids, principal, administrator, police chief, Social Services, and the District Attorney, all are satisfied that the investigation which questioned all of the children showed that it was nothing more than a playground scuffle between two boys who hugged and made up at the end, and who spend time at each other's homes.
the statement by the aid concerning not sending the boy to the nurse
The aid said she asked the Parker boy if he was hurt and needed to see the nurse, to which he allegedly replied no, he was fine and did not want to see the nurse.
and the letter by Romney concerning the issue of human sexuality
Romney's letter reflects that Mr. Parker's concern is the teaching of human sexuality. That was not the issue leading to the meetings with the school. The school assured Parker that no sexuality instruction was on any agenda for the early grades. You will find all of this in a number of pro and anti Parker sites, and in the press releases from the School Board Administrator.
My whole issue though is with the author of this piece. He needs to do his homework and understand that there are multiple versions he must consider when representing Accuracy in Reporting. Take care.
Teaching Kindergarten Kids About 'Human Differences' and Homosexuality Isn't 'Easy' in Newton
You will find all of this in a number of pro and anti Parker sites, and in the press releases from the School Board Administrator.
I do realize there are sites out there with varying opinions of what happened. I'm curious to know from what sites you've gleaned your information and why you consider it more credible.
I start off with the same sites you probably do, such as WND, Townhall, and the site that supports Mr. Parker, Mass resistance (Article 8 Alliance). Then I went to the other side's thread, Lexingtoncares, and looked at the reports they had. Then I looked at the news media such as Townonline (Lexington Minuteman news) and the Boston Globe.
Almost all of the other sites or news reflect those original sources. Even on the Mass resistance site, you will find the actual emails between the school and Parker. Then there are the various press releases from the school and the school board. So one needs to read it all, try and scrape away the baloney on both sides and arrive at what appears to be the actual events.
I admit I am biased against Parker ever since last year, and do not trust what he says. For me at least, he has an uphill climb. Everyone does a little spin, but most of us can see through it after a while. It's all out there, and as I said, Parker sees all my posts, and can refute either the story of the gang abduction and assault, or me any time he wishes.
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