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ACTION ALERT!!! Homeschooled Kids in Massachusetts Now in Legal Custody of State
Conservative Alerts ^ | 6/16/03 | Chuck Muth

Posted on 06/17/2003 6:29:40 AM PDT by agenda_express

Action Alert

Tell Bureaucrats to Stop Harassing Parents! Help Save Parental Choice in MA!

ISSUE: Our friend Chuck Muth (ChuckMuth.com) has just alerted us of an INSANE situation up in Waltham, Massachusetts. This one's so ridiculous, it makes our blood boil just to think of it. Take a look at his message:

Kim and George Bryant have been home-schooling their two kids, George (15) and Nyssa (13), much to the chagrin of the Waltham Public School (WPS) system. The Bryants thus far have refused to force their children to take a government-mandated standardized test to assess their education level.

The WPS empire struck back last year, obtaining a court order giving custody of the kids to the Department of Social Services (DSS), which ever since has been threatening to take the kids away from their parents.

As the MetroWest Daily News reported on Friday, "Both sides agree that the children are in no way abused mentally, physically, sexually or emotionally, but legal custody of the children was taken from Kim and George Bryant in December 2001." They were ruled to be "unfit" for not filing educational plans with the government.

Unfit. For not filing paperwork. With the government school system. Over the education of their OWN children.

In fact, George Bryant was actually ARRESTED six years ago for failing to comply with the government's dictates over the home-schooled education of HIS children.

Arrested. Thrown in jail. Like a criminal. For taking personal responsibility for the education of HIS kids.

This six-year legal battle exploded on Thursday as bureaucrats from the DSS showed up at the Bryants' home with police escorts at 7:45 a.m. and attempted to remove the children from their home and force them to take the mandated tests.

Once again, the Bryants told the government agents to pound dirt, resulting in a seven-hour standoff. "This has been a six-year battle between the Waltham Public Schools and our family over who is in control of the education of our children," said Bryant.

How DARE these parents stand up to the government and defend their right to raise their children as they see fit? Who do they think they are?

At least, that's the attitude of one outrageous government bureaucrat involved in this brouhaha.

"We have the legal custody of the children and we will do with them as we see fit," DSS trooper Susan Etscovitz told the Bryants Thursday morning. "They are minors and they do what we tell them to do."

It is near impossible to describe the rage I feel inside every time I read those chilling words.

WE will do with them as WE see fit. They do what WE tell them to do.

The sheer audacity of a bureaucrat to make such a statement about someone else's children who are in no way abused in any shape, form or fashion is beyond comprehension to me.

Comrade Etscovitz maintained on Thursday that, "No one wants these children to be put in foster homes. The best course of action would be for (the Bryants) to instruct the children to take the test."

One can just imagine her words being delivered with a thick East German accent: "Oon now, all vee need ees dee kidz!"

This isn't about education. It's about control. It's about an imperial government trying to crush a movement in its infancy which could one day spell the end of the public school monopoly over our kids' educations.

Home-schooling means children might start learning again. REAL learning. Not "whole language" and "self-esteem." Learning about radical notions such as freedom, liberty and personal responsibility. Notions such as limited government and the Constitution and the vision of our Founding Fathers.

Yeah, we can't have THAT!

ACTION ITEM: As it appears that DSS is getting its marching orders from the Waltham Public Schools, it seems the best place to start is with the School Superintendent there. Her name is Dr. Susan Parrella. She can be reached via email at parrellas@k12.waltham.ma.us or by phone at (781) 314-5400 or fax at (781) 314-5411.

Emails are great... but nothing quite ruins a bureaucrat's day like dealing with a flood of phone calls. I know. I just called. The woman who answered the phone hung up on me when she found out what I was calling about. They do NOT want to answer any questions about this.

Oh, and by the way. I reached Ms. Etscovitz this morning. She was not a happy camper once she found out what I was calling about. Refused to comment on her "we will do with them as we see fit" statement, saying only, "I'm terminating this conversation now," before slamming the phone down.

I think it would really bug her if a lot of people called (781) 641-8500, so please, please don't rattle her cage, OK? That number not to call again to reach Susan Etscovitz is (781) 641-8500. That's (781) 641-8500. (You could also fax her at 781-648-6909.)

-- Chuck Muth

We normally set up a website with a pre-written letter to Congress, etc. However, we thought it would be much more effective for our members to make contact as described above, in their own words. If you get a response you'd like to share, be sure to drop us a note. :-)

NOTE: The situation in Waltham has gotten WAY out of hand. Outraged Americans across the country need to contact these bureaucrats NOW to express their outrage and demand they do the RIGHT thing. Be sure to forward this Alert to everyone you know who wants to help preserve the integrity of this bastion of real American values. Thank you!


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: action; education; homeschool; massachusetts; muth
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"Government for the people and by the people" HUH???
1 posted on 06/17/2003 6:29:40 AM PDT by agenda_express
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To: agenda_express
bump!
2 posted on 06/17/2003 6:37:12 AM PDT by TheWillardHotel
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To: agenda_express
Freeped.
3 posted on 06/17/2003 6:37:50 AM PDT by Search4Truth (When a man lies, he murders part of the world.)
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To: agenda_express
I agree that this is about as outrageous as it gets. But now it appears that standing for principle is actually harming the kids. If they just take the stupid test, is the issue resolved? Because if it is, I'd strongly urge the parents to acquiesce on that point, and then take action.
4 posted on 06/17/2003 6:42:46 AM PDT by Mr. Bird
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To: Mr. Bird
I'd strongly urge the parents to acquiesce on that point, and then take action.

I don't think we know the whole story. Has a compromised been attempted? Could not the district examine some of the work of the students as a gage? I think there is a compromise in the offing but neither party will budge.

In the end, there is absolutely NO reason to remove these children. What a disgrace!

5 posted on 06/17/2003 6:46:20 AM PDT by The Iceman Cometh
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To: agenda_express
bump
6 posted on 06/17/2003 6:52:45 AM PDT by agrace
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To: Mr. Bird
Unfortunately, I don't know the content of the standardized tests.

However, if there is a chance the kids would fail any touchy-feely part concerning relativism, diversity, or revisionist history; 'just taking the stupid test' would be problematic.

How's about - flying colors in the math, science, language, and civics sections, but total failure in the self-esteem-for-others, and liberal-dogma sections; ergo, no GED.

???
7 posted on 06/17/2003 6:53:41 AM PDT by norton
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To: agenda_express
"The woman who answered the phone hung up on me when she found out what I was calling about."

Consistent with your results, the young Nazette who answered my call to the Waltham Public Schools was not interested in talking. On the other hand, she DID want me to take the number of DSS. My sense is that this already may have become a bit of a hot potato that needs to be passed along very quickly. Good. I hope many others will be calling today.
8 posted on 06/17/2003 6:55:57 AM PDT by hauerf
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To: Mr. Bird
This is bigger than just Kim and George Bryant and their children. And they know that. They are fighting for the rights of us all. I pray that they continue to fight this tooth and nail.

The lesson the children are learning from their parents is to never give up your freedoms... ever. And that sacrifices sometimes have to be made, and suffering endured, to defend our freedoms from the evil doers who would take them away.

I've made my call and sent my e-mail to the the Natzi bitch Mz. Etscovitz.
9 posted on 06/17/2003 6:57:19 AM PDT by Search4Truth (When a man lies, he murders part of the world.)
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To: agenda_express
bttt
10 posted on 06/17/2003 6:59:50 AM PDT by Lady Eileen
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To: agenda_express
Well it seems the nazi witch is "not available at this time, what is this concerning?" as soon as I started telling them they hung up on Me.

Now for the next call...

I will update shortly

11 posted on 06/17/2003 7:03:57 AM PDT by ChefKeith (NASCAR...everything else is just a game!)
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To: ChefKeith
Again "not available, may I take a message?"

I left a short one and was told thank You for calling.

NEXT....

12 posted on 06/17/2003 7:07:02 AM PDT by ChefKeith (NASCAR...everything else is just a game!)
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To: TheWillardHotel
DSS = The latest example of the little tin god complex.
13 posted on 06/17/2003 7:12:04 AM PDT by chiefqc
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To: The Iceman Cometh
Seems this has been a running struggle of compromises and refusals. I think the kids are getting a great education about the state and the rights of individuals in the Communist Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bryants lose court battle: Social Service now guardian of Waltham children in homeschooling case

By DeAnna Putnam Friday, December 14, 2001
WALTHAM - The two children of George and Kim Bryant have been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services because their parents refuse to submit a home-schooling lesson plan to the Waltham School Department.

The children, Nyssa, 12, and George, 13, remain at home.

In the latest twist to a long-running dispute, Framingham Juvenile Court Judge Kathryn White said that DSS will be the children’s legal guardian until they are 16. The Bryants can’t take their children out of state.

In her decision, White noted that the children have not been abused and their home life is good.

The Bryants yesterday offered DSS area Director Margaret Monnie a lesson plan to satisfy White’s court order. But Monnie said she did not want the plan and that the couple should submit it to the Waltham School Department.

Monnie told the Bryants that Waltham School officials will inform DSS if the lesson plan is acceptable.

The School Committee, an elected board separate from the school administration, has approved the couple’s plan and said it would like such plans submitted every year.

The Bryants yesterday went to the DSS office in Arlington to talk about their case. An assistant area director said DSS had just been informed of the judge’s decision and had not yet assigned a caseworker.

The couple has battled with the School Committee and Waltham School Department over home-schooling their children for five years.

The School Department this year filed a Care and Protection complaint against the couple because they did not submit a lesson plan for the 2000-2001 academic year.

The Bryants say no law requires them to do so.

Waltham Assistant City Solicitor Howard Rock agrees that no law requires the couple to submit a lesson plan, but he said the School Committee has the right to create legal requirements by its own authority.

To date, city attorneys have handled 16 cases related to the Bryants, including cases the city has filed against the couple and counterclaims the Bryants have filed against the city.

The Bryants submitted a lesson plan three years ago when the city went through similar measures to have custody of the children turned over to DSS.

Monnie told the Bryants that DSS would insist on visiting the children at home.

But White’s order says “home visits, however, may not be required for the approval of a proposed home schooling plan. Home visits are not presumptively essential to protect the state’s interest in ensuring the education of children.”

Monnie told the Bryants it was obvious that they “don’t want to play the game” that the city of Waltham has set up for them regarding schooling requirements.

People who resist opposed norms sometimes are to be commended, Monnie said, but for now, the state is requiring the couple to conform.

Although DSS had no part in bringing Care and Protection charges against the couple, DSS has to comply with the court order, she said.

George Bryant said he and his wife would drop off a lesson plan at the Waltham School Department by today.

Meanwhile, they are appealing White’s decision, and pursuing other complaints they have filed, because they feel their constitutional rights have been violated many times, George Bryant said.

http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/local_regional/waltbryants12142001.htm
14 posted on 06/17/2003 7:14:52 AM PDT by optimistically_conservative
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To: norton
Obviously, we need more information. Have the parents objected to the content of the test? You correctly point out that the test could be a farce. If that is their objection, I'd be interested to see the test myself.

But what if they have an objection to the assessment requirement at all, which is how I read it? That's more problematic. It is likely that the parents will wish to see their children pursue a higher education, and they will need to be assessed at that point for college admissions via the ACT, SAT, or some other method.

The parents need to figure out a way to resolve this quickly and to the benefit of their kids. At 15 and 13, the kids could take the PSAT (or even the SAT possibly) and ask that those scores be used by the state to verify that they are being educated. I do not think that allowing your kids to be supervised (indeed, controlled) by the government is a healthy or responsible thing to do, regardless of the principle involved.

What would I do? I'd do whatever necessary to get my kids back and move out of the state immediately. And I'd never return.

15 posted on 06/17/2003 7:23:22 AM PDT by Mr. Bird
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To: agenda_express
This is really great! The Bryant's win anyway!

Those two Bryant kids will see, up close, the mindless 'process' of a nascent totalitarian state.

It's the best education they could possibly get in these times, when the forces of socialism overwhelm all American civil institutions.

Provided they aren't killed in custody.
16 posted on 06/17/2003 7:27:28 AM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: optimistically_conservative
I just called the number for Ms. iscovitz or whatever the hell her name is and was told she was unavailable as was her superior. They apparently will be unavailable indefiniately.

I was given the number for the public affairs dept. which is 617 748 2000. This seems to be run by a Ms. Denise Montero who's cell phone number is 617 560 9332. Another contact number for her is 781 771 9691.

I recomend that everyone invest a dime or two and give them a call.
17 posted on 06/17/2003 7:31:12 AM PDT by Hitlerys uterus
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To: Mr. Bird
No, once you engage these nazis, it never ends.
18 posted on 06/17/2003 7:32:52 AM PDT by agitator (Ok, mic check...line one...)
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To: Mr. Bird
But now it appears that standing for principle is actually harming the kids.

You're engaging in some mental gymnastics here and don't even appear to be aware of it.
19 posted on 06/17/2003 7:37:15 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: aruanan
You're engaging in some mental gymnastics here and don't even appear to be aware of it.

You are correct that I am unaware of my mental gymnastics here. I wouldn't teach my kids about the American penal system by sending them to jail, why would I wish to educate them on the dangers of totalitarianism by surrendering them to the state? In case you didn't notice, the kids are no longer in the custody of their parents. I fail to see that as anything but a very bad thing.

20 posted on 06/17/2003 7:44:02 AM PDT by Mr. Bird
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