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An INSANE situation up in Waltham, Massachusetts
Conservative Alerts.Com ^ | Chuck Muth

Posted on 06/16/2003 3:21:35 PM PDT by webber

An INSANE situation up in Waltham, Massachusetts

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


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. As this issue develops and is "bumped up the ladder" of responsibility, we'll let you know who to contact next.

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




TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 18uscs242; homeschoollist
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To: TigersEye; Sarah
Dear Sarah, not only is my husband, TigersEye fun to live with, he is also the most considerate, compassionate, gentle man that I have ever had the priviledge of knowing intimately. I am familiar with other gentle men, Jim Robinson and MeekNMing on this forum for instance, but God has given me TigersEye as my closest companion, best friend, and leader of this household. It is a joy and blessing to live under his loving guidance. What he says about giving respect to those who are worthy of it is true: Even God will not throw pearls to pigs.

Regarding the other point, when you allow the State to own your children - and you must allow it, for it is not a God-given thing - you end up with Hitler Youth. No thank you. Obviously, this Waltham couple is not going to allow it, and I praise God for such parents!

241 posted on 06/19/2003 2:51:57 AM PDT by .30Carbine
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To: .30Carbine
Priviledge=privilege; one too many commas in there as well.
242 posted on 06/19/2003 2:58:28 AM PDT by .30Carbine (I'm still struggling to overcome my public school 'education')
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To: Sarah; Admin Moderator
The kind of opinion I'd expect from someone volunteering to adopt the screen name 'Sloth'.

This is known as a personal attack, something not allowed on this forum. Can't you follow the rules, Sarah?

243 posted on 06/19/2003 3:11:43 AM PDT by .30Carbine
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To: .30Carbine
Personal attack? Are you joking? A tad sensitive, perhaps?
Anyway I was just responding in kind to his post #48.
244 posted on 06/19/2003 4:50:31 AM PDT by Sarah
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To: TigersEye
I'm happy that your wife has come to your defense. I guess I'll just have to take you all's word for the fact that you are the just nicest guy on earth.
Anarchy is what you are preaching. Laws and respect for the law are what separates man from animals.
If you have a difficulty with any given law, as is expected, change it, don't just think you can disobey and there will be no consequences.
Home schooling, after much struggle, was accepted by law. Minimal testing being the only requirement. (Much of what we find offensive in Public School Education is not neccessary.)
Then this couple comes along and decides to risk all the hard work of the home school movement by refusing to recognise the laws on the books.
I call that selfish and irresponsible. You call that patriotic.
245 posted on 06/19/2003 5:04:30 AM PDT by Sarah
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To: Sarah
Anarchy is what you are preaching.

That is your opinion of the 60's civil rights marches?

I guess we can throw those rebels of the Revolutionary War in that pot too and of course those farmers in the Klamath Basin should have just shut up, gone home and watched their farms dry up and blow away. Those law breakers that ran the Underground Railroad were awful too.

Laws and respect for the law are what separates man from animals.

Is that right? I thought it was having been made in the image of God? Or our ability to talk. Or use tools. But what do I know? Jesus sure got it wrong when he said " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." He makes it sound like respect for God and man are more important than the love of law. He even claims it is the very essence of all the law. When He said "Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's" I didn't realize He meant your children too.

Then this couple comes along and decides to risk all the hard work of the home school movement by refusing to recognise the laws on the books. I call that selfish and irresponsible. You call that patriotic.

How do the actions of this couple risk the work of other home schoolers? Are you expecting retaliatory actions from the State on all home schoolers for this couple's refusal to cooperate? Do you accept that as appropriate government action?

I didn't call it patriotic, you mischaracterize my words again. By your logic the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto who revolted were selfish and irresponsible because they caused the Nazi's to come down harder on the rest. I consider defiance of tyranny to be an act of compassion and wisdom.

You seem to be offended that you have been characterized as a socialist. I don't understand that. You are a staunch defender of the State, a socialist POV. If that is the philosophy you believe in stand up and take the label proudly. As for me I believe in the rule of law very strongly, particularly as desribed by our Constitution as a Constitutional Republic. By its very nature the Constitution gives primacy to "the people" not the State and nowhere does it make reference to 'society'.

I guess I don't do "go along to get along" very well.

246 posted on 06/19/2003 7:41:44 AM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: Sarah; .30Carbine
Personal attack? Are you joking? A tad sensitive, perhaps? Anyway I was just responding in kind to his post #48.

I think she's just pointing out that you don't practice what you preach. It puts a really fine point on your hypocrisy when you complain that other's are calling you names.

247 posted on 06/19/2003 7:57:25 AM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: Sarah; freebilly
He didn't really call you a name anyway. freebilly just attached an appropriate label to your POV. That's not name calling, that's an observation.
248 posted on 06/19/2003 8:08:41 AM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: webber
LOCAL COUPLE STANDUP AGAINST SCHOOL BOARD...
249 posted on 06/19/2003 8:22:32 AM PDT by Bill Davis FR
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To: TigersEye
Should firearms owners be tested, lisenced and registered in order to own and use guns?

That's a good point, however I believe guns should be kept out of the hands of felons, the insane, and the incompetent (unsupervised children.)

In this case, I am skeptical as to whether it is the government's job to ensure that children are educated to the government's standards. I do not fear uneducated people. I fear immoral and evil people. There is a profound difference.

250 posted on 06/19/2003 10:04:22 AM PDT by Zack Nguyen
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To: grania
You are on the right track. These parents refused long ago to file education plans with the local school district. Had they chosen to cooperate, they could have avoided testing altogether since the local school district has very minimal requirements for these plans and would have allowed any one of various methods of assessment. Because these parents want to make a point and get publicity, they refuse to cooperate in any way, shape or form. As a result, custody of their children has been turned over to DSS. That happened a while ago. As of now, as the article states, the local superintendent wasn't even aware of this latest action. That's because the school system has in its possession a valid education plan that was filed by the children's custodian, DSS. The school district is satisfied. DSS is requiring the testing, not the local school district so this latest issue is between the family and DSS. These parents may be providing their children with a wonderful education. Unfortunately part of that education includes continual lessons in stupidity and spitefulness that can't be good for any child.
251 posted on 06/19/2003 10:15:57 AM PDT by ConstitutionLover
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To: ConstitutionLover
These parents may be providing their children with a wonderful education. Unfortunately part of that education includes continual lessons in stupidity and spitefulness that can't be good for any child.

This thread has been really good for getting past the sensationalism to the facts. It seems that the students, even when schooled at home, could benefit from cooperation. Waltham must have a lot of programs in sports and in the arts that the students would have access to. They could be taking courses the parents can't provide.

I'll defend the home-school concept, even though I've seen situations where maybe the students were missing some things. But using two teenagers to carry out an agenda? No way is that acceptable.

252 posted on 06/19/2003 10:57:32 AM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
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To: Zack Nguyen
I believe guns should be kept out of the hands of felons, the insane, and the incompetent (unsupervised children.

The insane have lost their rights through due process and I would hope that included driving as well. Felons also have lost their rights through due process but I don't agree with that. If a person has paid for their crime their rights should be restored in full, IMO. If a given felon can be considered a continuing threat to the community then they shouldn't be set free in the first place. More stringent and appropriate sentencing is needed in this country. Children have been allowed to use guns, unsupervised, from the founding of this country to the present. This has only somewhat changed in the last thirty years. I was given a gun of my own at 15 and I posed no threat to anyone with it.

I do not fear uneducated people. I fear immoral and evil people. There is a profound difference.

Amen to that! There is also a profound difference between educated and intelligent. Intelligence is a native quality of the mind, education is merely the rote schooling of the mind in a particular subject.

253 posted on 06/19/2003 2:09:34 PM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: ConstitutionLover
These parents refused long ago to file education plans with the local school district. Had they chosen to cooperate, ...

You really ought to change your nick. It doesn't fit.

Because these parents want to make a point and get publicity, ...

An assumption on your part. I see nothing in the article to back up that assertion. They seem like people who want to be left alone not draw attention to themselves.

Unfortunately part of that education includes continual lessons in stupidity and spitefulness that can't be good for any child.

Refusing to kowtow to the government and cede away their authority as parents is stupid and spiteful?
Constitution lover my eye.

254 posted on 06/19/2003 2:19:40 PM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: grania
But using two teenagers to carry out an agenda?

What agenda? The agenda of sovereignty over one's own children?

255 posted on 06/19/2003 2:22:03 PM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: TigersEye
What agenda? The agenda of sovereignty over one's own children?

Read the whole thread. The whole thing started because the parents did not file an education plan with the town, as is required if the student isn't attending school. That's how DSS got involved, and it spun out of control.

I wish someone could get the parents on line to find out why they didn't submit a plan.

256 posted on 06/19/2003 2:51:57 PM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
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To: grania
I have read the whole thread. I still see no basis for assuming that they have an agenda...other than the one I suggested. Their motivation seems clear to me, the gooberment has no business overseeing the education of children unless the parents voluntarily place them in gooberment school. Period. The law may say otherwise but the law is wrong if it does.
257 posted on 06/19/2003 3:04:50 PM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: TigersEye
I found response #251 to be persuasive and not in disagreement with anything I've encountered in MA law regarding homestudy (which also covers when a child opts for private summer tutoring to make up a course for a better grade).

It comes down to that education plan. If it had been submitted and there was no reasonable dialogue, then the parents might have a gripe.

If anyone here knows the parents, I really do wish they'd start a thread.

258 posted on 06/19/2003 3:14:36 PM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
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To: grania
If anyone here knows the parents, I really do wish they'd start a thread.

That would be good. Until then we can only speculate as to their exact motivations.

I still think it is wrong for the government to have any say about whether parents educate their children or not, much less how they educate them.

259 posted on 06/19/2003 3:24:45 PM PDT by TigersEye (Joe McCarthy was right...so was PT Barnum!)
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To: TigersEye
I still think it is wrong for the government to have any say about whether parents educate their children or not, much less how they educate them.

It's a Catch 22. If the schools don't maintain standards, then people complain that the public schools are cesspools and nobody is learning anything. If they have a requirement like this, some people will complain it's an infraction on the rights of parents.

I personally think the public schools are only responsible for the basic skills to be a good citizen, get a job, and function in society. Parents should have to demonstrate their students have achieved this much, so the children are prepared to function in the adult world.

In these cases, though, more should be required. I don't know if this came up on the thread. These home study students who keep up with an approved plan graduate with their classes and have a public school diploma from that local school. So, of course there have to be some assurances that the student isn't being given a gift, sitting home and not up to the same level as students in school.

The alternatives? Private schools, GEDs, and Junior/Senior year in a public college.

260 posted on 06/19/2003 4:42:48 PM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
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