Free Republic

Lexington’s School Committee reaffirms its commitment to diversity By From the School Committee Thursday, September 1, 2005 The beginning of a new school year is a good time to consider why our country pioneered universal public education back in the 1830s and 1840s. Public schools have a utilitarian mission in part: to prepare students for productive employment. In a high-performing district like Lexington, the schools also have a serious college preparatory mission, and we are proud that virtually all our students who want to pursue a college education do so, many at prestigious universities. Of course, we share with all...

Letter: Groups to protest in support of Parker Thursday, September 1, 2005 Get ready, Lexington! The folks from several anti-gay statewide groups including the Massachusetts Family Institute are quietly organizing several concurrent events throughout town next week in support of David Parker. To me, it looks like there will be an effort to make it appear that Mr. Parker has lots of local support, for these are the same groups that brought people into Boston from all over the state to anti-gay rallies during the debate on the gay marriage constitutional amendment. I expect they'll do something similar in this...

PARENT'S SUPPORTERS TO GATHER -- Selectmen have granted permission for supporters of David Parker, the Lexington parent facing trespassing charges for refusing to leave his son's elementary school after a debate with school administrators over material pertaining to same-sex couples, to use the Battle Green for a rally next week. The rally is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Parker is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 21 in Concord District Court.

Quint: Pay closer attention to curriculum By Jonathan Quint/ Guest Commentary Thursday, August 18, 2005 Ostensibly, David Parker's arrest is about choice ("This is about choice ... about the proper relationship between parents and the government," said [Parker's legal counsel, Jeffrey Denner). But the fact of the matter is that this is about same-sex marriage. David Parker has an issue with his son's kindergarten class. Parker "contests the schools are interfering with the choice of parents to educate their children as they see fit," because the school sent home a diversity bag that included a book about different types of...

The myth of the heterosexual family August 15, 2005 DONOVAN SLACK'S Aug. 12 news story ''Thou Art No Romeo" reveals a great deal about our culture's commitment to sustaining the myth that the heterosexual nuclear family is the only acceptable unit for adult couples, despite evidence to the contrary. The story discloses that the beloved and deeply partnered swans at the Public Garden are (gasp!) both female. Although homosexual behavior is well documented among animals, a person in the story describes these two swans' behavior as ''lunacy." Which is crazier, accepting basic facts or attempting to deny evidence that the...

Dad Embroiled In Gay Book Dispute Goes To Court Parker Plans To Sue Lexington, School System POSTED: 5:51 pm EDT August 2, 2005 UPDATED: 7:08 am EDT August 3, 2005 LEXINGTON, Mass. -- A trial date has been set for David Parker, the Lexington, Mass., parent arrested after a dispute with his son's school principal over a book with a depiction of a gay family. NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that Parker's attorney said the trial may never start and he is negotiating with school officials. Although Parker's court appearance was quick, supporters gathered outside the courthouse. "There's a larger...

Letter: Demands would impact children Thursday, August 4, 2005 I would like to thank Neil Tassel for clarifying several issues surrounding the David Parker/Estabrook School incident ("Refuting accusations against David Parker," July 28 Minuteman). I would also like to respond to a few points. Mr. Tassel said that the Parkers wanted the school to "...notify them in advance if there is a planned discussion about same-sex issues, and, if an adult becomes involved in a discussion spontaneously begun by a child, then remove their child from the discussion. Their concern is that impressionable children will hear for the first time...

Letter: Actions have hurt community Thursday, August 4, 2005 This is my perspective in the David Parker matter. Here's a little background. My wife, three daughters and I moved from California to Lexington in 2001. My daughter was a kindergartner with Mr. Parker's son this past year.. We chose to move to Lexington after looking at a myriad of towns. We sought a community with a commitment to quality education and one that reflected our belief in openness, inclusion and diversity. This type of decision-making is based on "the social economics of townships." Towns are differentiated with diverse values and...

Parker trial set to begin Sept. 21 By Bethan L. Jones/ Staff Writer Thursday, August 4, 2005 Concord District Court was exceptionally busy on Tuesday morning. Aside from the usual slew of cases, Lexington resident David Parker, arrested in late April at the Estabrook Elementary School, appeared before Judge Robert McKenna for a pre-trial hearing and came away with a court date. Parker will have a jury trial on Sept. 21. Parker is charged with trespassing after he refused to leave school property at the close of a meeting with Estabrook Principal Joni Jay and then-Director of Curriculum Andre Ravenelle....

From the press conference after the hearing - David Parker and his lawyer, Jeffrey Denner Denner: The expectation is that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will comply with the discovery laws. There are laws in place that control the flow of information to children and the classroom protects the rights of parents who are essentially guardians of what their children learn. And we're assuming Lexington, as all other towns in Massachusetts, will comply with that. Reporter: What is this trial all about? Denner: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has decided to charge my client with trespassing. We don't believe he in fact...

David Parker jury trial to start Sept. 21 Arrogant Lexington city officials continue to ban Parker from all school property, as son about to enter 1st grade. Parker supporters show up in force for hearing - completely upstage gay activists. NOTE: Lots more to be posted here - we're just taking a dinner break! View from the court. Judge Robert McKenna talks to Parkers lawyers Jeffrey Denner (r), Neil Tassel (middle), and lawyer from district attorney's office. [pic] David Parker stands while his case is being discussed. [pic] Yes, this is John Adams! He showed up and weighed in. He...

Lexington parent David Parker back in Concord District Court Tuesday morning, August 2. Parker’s lawyers continue to fight criminal trespassing charge. Seeking discovery requests from state. State seeking dismissal with probation and other restrictions. Town continues to ban Parker from all school property – he can’t attend school board meetings or vote! Demonstrators from both sides expected – gay activists and Lexington parents supporting Parker. Parker arrested by Lexington police on April 27 and spent the night in jail over parental notification about teaching homosexuality and transgenderism in his son's kindergarten class. WALTHAM, MA, August 1 -- Lexington parent David...

Guest Commentary: Refuting accusations against David Parker By Neil S. Tassel/ Guest Commentary Thursday, July 28, 2005 As counsel for David Parker, I wish to clarify numerous inaccuracies which have plagued your paper in recent weeks concerning my client through many letters to the editor. While my nature is to believe that most of these inaccuracies are simply erroneous assumptions, I believe that many are intentional misrepresentations intended to further the political agendas of their proponents. First of all, Mr. Parker does not hate homosexuals or their families. In fact he is an exceptionally kind hearted man, who is anguished...

"And yet for my husband and me, it seems that marriage simply adds a new category of potential suitors: the couple with a crush on us." -- David Valdes Greenwood ------------------------------------------------------ COUPLING Four's a Crowd Breaking up with one person is hard enough. But when it's a couple you want to avoid, it can get ugly. By David Valdes Greenwood | July 24, 2005 Once you marry, you think you are safely removed from the perils of dating. And yet for my husband and me, it seems that marriage simply adds a new category of potential suitors: the couple with...

Endless summers A vacation home can be an oasis -- but there are headaches, too By Emily Shartin, Globe Staff | July 24, 2005 EDGARTOWN -- When a spring storm began battering Massachusetts earlier this year, Karen and Kevin Newman's thoughts quickly turned to their new vacation home on Martha's Vineyard. For about a year, the Newton couple had been making regular trips to the house, an unkempt property that they bought with plans of fixing up. The Newmans are among the many families who have fulfilled the dream of owning a vacation home. [...] But Joyce Misuraca, a 55-year-old...

Camenker: Article 8 director responds to letters By Brian Camenker Thursday, June 23, 2005 David Parker's arrest made the national media. People across the country - including Massachusetts and even in Lexington - are still in shock. One would think it would cause a community to embark on some thoughtful introspection. But instead, a relatively small but very vocal (and angry) group of people has undertaken a campaign of hysteria, lies, fear, and intimidation to discredit and demonize David Parker, his family, and anyone associated with him, including other parents who came to his side, Pastor Jed Snyder of Countryside...