Posted on 06/16/2003 3:21:35 PM PDT by webber
This one's so Outrageous, it makes our blood boil just to think of it. Take a look at his message:
ISSUE: 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: "undt now, all vee need eez 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, ConservativeAlerts.Com
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 email to everyone you know who wants to help save parental choice in America, starting in Massachusetts. p> Thank you!
--Chuck Muth, ConservativeAlerts.Com
On that thread, I stated my admiration for homeschoolers for the immense sacrifices they have made (my sister homeschools, so I know that it requires a tremendous amount of effort).
Most current homeschoolers are very devoted to their commitments, and their children excell far beyond our contemptible public education.
But if this family is allowed to thumb their nose to state testing, then I see this as setting a precedent for all the lazy, low-life project mentality parents to "claim" that they are homeschooling their children. And they would no longer have to prove it. Then, as one of you stated, these children will grow up and be turned loose on society.
I just wish I knew how to do a link so that you guys could peruse the other thread and help me out. But alas, I've just now learned how to cut and paste, but the instructions I've been given on doing links still baffle me.)
What if this so-called "herd immunity" described does indeed work by not allowing a disease to get a hold? It could only do so by sacrificing some of the most weak and vulnerable to adverse vaccine reactions, including death --is that acceptable (maybe in today's Amerika)? With our modern medicine and bioterrism sensitivities, it is highly unlikely that a disease would spread far in the manner you described.
I've seen doctors make SO many mistakes...and they totally avoid preventative/nutritional aspects of medicine. What about the parent who "knows" that their child seems to have food sensitivitious (through family history, close observation), but can't perform medical tests to prove it? Must they still submit their child to vaccinations about which the doctors don't even know the contents? Ever try to get a hold of the vaccine insert to read? Good luck; you must be provided one by law when you buy aspirin, but you are treated like a space alien if you ask for one for DPT or MMR. A child I know has wheat sensitivities, and not a single doctor in the entire prestigus could tell the parent whether the shots had wheat/gluten- huh? Who's being irresponsible there -- the ignorant doctor or the parent who seeks further info?
I don't know all the facts in this case, so it's hard for me to say what's going on -- were there simple steps the parents could have taken earlier which would not have infringed on their consciences but meet the letter of the law? That being said, I think it is better to run the risk of a few children being "left behind" by fake/irresponsible homeschooling parents than to regulate the vast majority who are doing it right, in order to leave sacred the right of parents to direct their children's upbringing (it may be too late in terms of precedent, since we've swallowed the hokum of mandatory schooling). There are already laws against child abuse, those should suffice to get the really bad eggs. By the way, many of the most successful small businesspeople I know only have high school educations; and we need more people in the trades (electrical, plumbing, etc), not more brainwashed collegians.
Are you a socialist?
Just what in the hell do I owe society? I have a few boxes of copper clad hollow points if you'd like payment in precious metals.
Oh yeah, that works real well. No one with a state issued drivers lisence ever drives drunk or gets into a high speed chase to avoid a DUI etc. If one is a competent driver and thus never causes an accident or breaks the traffic laws why should they prove their ability to the state? Haven't they already demonstrated it?
Lisence and create a data base on people who screw up. Driving should be a right until you mess up just like owning a firearm. The right is limited or completely curtailed in proportion to how much you abuse it. Abuse either one too much and you lose your right to walk free. As it is lisenced drivers are working on their fourth, fifth, sixth DUI's.
I don't get the logic at play here. You're afraid that homeschooled kids will end up 'pig stupid' unless the state tests them. What is the graduation rate of public schooled kids? What are the consequences to the state for kids who fail? Oh yeah, higher budgets. What is it the state is teaching that's producing this abundance of societal paragons?
When the state demands testing of homeschoolers they should enroll in public school and then drop out. What does the state ever do about drop outs?
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.)I've been saying for awhile that the best way to deal with overofficious government agents (and the CPS types are among the worst) is to post their names, pictures, addresses, home phone numbers...stuff like that.
-Eric
Don't all colleges and universities give their own entrance exams? Don't all government schooled kids have to take them? Why should homeschooled kids take a state test then?
"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."
Ah yes, the gentle yet tough love of a government bureacrat. The village has called, and they want their child.
Public school to the rescue!!!
Bwahahaha! The school counselor will give the kid a donut and a prozac-ritalin cocktail and all will be well.
I want the State to make sure. Someday these kids are going to be released on all of us. Hopefully well educated and well adjusted, but we need a clue they are going in that direction.
Someday all public schooled kids will be released on us. I want them all locked up, sterilized or shot judging from current results. Seig heil (Hail welfare), comrade!
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