''We don't view telling a child that there is a family out there with two mommies as teaching about homosexuality, heterosexuality, or any kind of sexuality," he said. ''We are teaching about the realities of where different children come from."
It went on to say this about what started this whole thing over a year ago:
The bag of books promoting diversity is sent home with one student at a time, said Rachel F. Cortez, copresident of the Estabrook parent-teacher association and a member of the school's Anti-Bias Committee.
(Okay, I do think it is ridiculous an elementary school has an Anti-Bias Committee!)
Parents received notice about the book bag at the beginning of the year and the date that it was scheduled to be sent home with their child. The bag's contents also were put on display at a back-to-school night earlier in the school year, she said, and parents are not required to have their child bring it home.
(Mrs. Parker says she didn't see display and was not told about the bag specifically)
''The kids don't have to take them [the materials] home," she said. ''Parents can either opt out entirely or use whatever materials they want."
If what Mr. Parker says is true, and the school was informed of his general 'opt out' request, then YES, the school screwed up when it let Parker's son bring the "diversity bag" home.
But blowing this playgound incident out of proportion is nutty, and hurts his cause even more than his stunt of refusing to leave school grounds, being arrested and spending the night in jail "to make a point" (??), having "vigils", aligning with some (not all, but some) fringe groups like Fred Phelps' church, starting a David Parker Fund, and opening a pay-pal account.
Kinda Cindy Sheehan-ish, like he likes the fame of the issue.
By the way, why doesn't he pull his child from that school? It would seem homeschooling would be a terrific option!
But blowing this playgound incident out of proportion is nutty,
If you're saying Parker has blown the playground incident out of proportion, to what exactly are you referring? What has Parker said or been quoted as saying on the matter?
and hurts his cause even more than his stunt of refusing to leave school grounds, being arrested and spending the night in jail "to make a point" (??),
Parker is on record as saying that may not have been best, and having 20/20 hindsight has always proved to be a great teacher.
having "vigils", aligning with some (not all, but some) fringe groups like Fred Phelps' church,
I'm unaware of any fringe groups like Fred Phelps' church with which Parker has aligned himself. And if you were trying to be as offensive as possible, I would think you just succeeded.
starting a David Parker Fund, and opening a pay-pal account. Kinda Cindy Sheehan-ish, like he likes the fame of the issue.
I don't know Parker's heart, but I have been on the receiving end of some very radical homosexual activists and can understand from where he's coming.
why doesn't he pull his child from that school? It would seem homeschooling would be a terrific option!
As a home schooler I would agree but I don't know everything about the situation. I think it was gidget7 (just pinged her too) that said something about Parker not having any legal standing if he pulled his child from the school.
I'll be on the lake in two hours. ;-)