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Parental Rights vs. Public Schools
Fox News ^ | August 10, 2005 | Wendy McElroy

Posted on 08/10/2005 8:04:45 AM PDT by vrwc0915

David Parker (search) of Lexington, Mass., is scheduled to go on trial on Sept. 21 for asking his son's public school to provide parental notification before discussing homosexuality with the 6-year old. The actual charge is criminal trespassing. But the real issue is whether parents or schools will control the teaching of values to children The conflict began on Jan. 17, when Parker's then-5-year-old son brought home a Diversity Bookbag from kindergarten. Included was Robert Skutch's "Who's In a Family?" that depicts families headed by same-sex couples. Parker had wanted to decide for himself the timing and manner in which his son was introduced to the subject of homosexuality. (The Bookbag is supposed to be a voluntary program but the Parkers knew nothing about it in advance.) Parker immediately e-mailed the Estabrook school principal, Joni Jay (search). Parker expressed his belief that gay parents did not constitute "a spiritually healthy family"; he did not wish his son to be taught that a gay family is "a morally equal alternative to other family constructs." Parker acknowledged the equal rights of gays but objected to "the 'out of the closet' and into the kindergarten classroom mentality." In essence, Parker highlighted the difference between tolerance, which acknowledges someone's right to make a choice, and acceptance, which is the personal validation of that choice. The conflict moved quickly from the Diversity Bookbag (search) to the more general issue of parental notification. The Parkers wanted to know if sexuality was scheduled to be discussed in class so they could remove their son. They also wanted their son removed from any "spontaneous conversations" about sexuality that involved an adult.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: davidparker; homosexualagenda; lexington; mcelroy; parentalrights; parker; publicschools
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To: defconw; Mo1; tiredoflaundry; Fudd Fan; Bahbah

You guys have got to read this!!


21 posted on 08/10/2005 8:23:33 AM PDT by Txsleuth (Free Republic is #1!!!!!)
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To: Tax-chick

It won't fly until the courts get involved. And they will. Wait for it.

The left knows they don't have public support for their agenda. So they use the courts to ram their agenda down our throats. It's worked beautifully so far. And they aren't done.


22 posted on 08/10/2005 8:23:55 AM PDT by Peach
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To: vrwc0915
Parker had wanted to decide for himself the timing and manner in which his son was introduced to the subject of homosexuality.
 
And that's why my wife and I sacrifice to send our kids to Catholic school.  Even though he's only three, I can point to a rainbow flag, ask my son what it means and he'll yell "HOOOOH-MOOOOH!!!  HOOOOH-MOOOOH!!!  HOOOOH-MOOOOH!!!"
Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

23 posted on 08/10/2005 8:24:23 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: JZelle

I wrote this letter to the editor over 2 years ago and have not saved my research.

I can tell you that I spent a long time researching that letter, found valid sources and another freeper up thread has mentioned she heard about the NEA's agenda as well.

If I could find the source for you quickly, I would.


24 posted on 08/10/2005 8:25:13 AM PDT by Peach
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To: JZelle

And although I read Tammy Bruce's book a few years ago, I'll bet she has info in that book about the NEA's agenda.

Tammy Bruce would answer you and your question if you wrote to her. I think Drudge lists her on his web site.


25 posted on 08/10/2005 8:26:19 AM PDT by Peach
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To: Peach
Former Gov. Gay Davis of California signed a sex education law that requires students to adopt a healthy attitude toward homosexuality. The NEA has developed programs to incorporate the gay agenda in our public schools for children of all ages.

He has no jurisdiction to require students to "adopt" any prescribed attitude about anything. One might make the case that the state schools have the right to teach what they want (personally I disagree) but the government doesn't (yet) have the power to legislate thought.

26 posted on 08/10/2005 8:26:42 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Disregard the law of unintended consequences at your own risk.)
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To: Peach

I still don't see it's making a real (rather than symbolic) difference. If you don't have a "recognized" diploma, you can get a GED. And employers and colleges will know who's a worthwhile candidate in spite of the obfuscation.


27 posted on 08/10/2005 8:27:20 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Liberals: Too stupid to realize Dick Cheney is the real Dark Lord.)
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: vrwc0915

I find this situation absolutely amazing. Since when can a school dictate to a parent what their child will learn? I think home schooling would be preferable, but that is obviously not an option here.


29 posted on 08/10/2005 8:28:51 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: vrwc0915
Godspeed to this parent. This parent has more gusto than I do. I just homeschool my children so the issue doesn't come up and I don't have to blow a vein over it.

For the sake of the parents who do not homeschool- I hope this case makes some new standards in the education of our children.

Yes, homosexuals have the right to have a family- but I do not need to explain it to my 7 year old. The "birds and bees" are confusing enough at that age- we don't need to throw politics into it.

Lets try teaching the kids to read,and do basic math in elementary school.

30 posted on 08/10/2005 8:30:35 AM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (Code pink stinks!)
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To: HungarianGypsy
Any suggestions when one of the kids says they want to see what public school is "like"? Only because they think public school is like what is depicted on tv (hanging out with friends in the hall) and that their friend says they get "free dessert". He also wants to see what a school "looks like" inside.

Take him into the bathroom. Beat him up. Mock his hairstyle, steal his money and shove his head down the toilet. Then make him sit at a little desk for six hours doing nothing.

Tell him "that's what public school is like".

31 posted on 08/10/2005 8:30:35 AM PDT by JenB (Go and catch a falling star...)
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To: Still Thinking

I don't know about who has the "power",but I think that some are misusing their power---

I heard a few years ago, that some schools were forcing the kids to dress in Muslim dress and study the Muslim lifestyle...I read it a couple of times, but can't tell you where/when...

Anyway, what I am getting at is----I wouldn't be too quick to assume the schools can't/wouldn't do this stuff.

The NEA is a very powerful labor union...and has the money pouring into democraps pockets all the time.


32 posted on 08/10/2005 8:31:04 AM PDT by Txsleuth (Free Republic is #1!!!!!)
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To: vrwc0915; Lexinom

When a 12 year old can get birth control without parental consent and 5 year olds are encouraged to touch their private parts, this sadly doesn't surprise me.


33 posted on 08/10/2005 8:33:22 AM PDT by Nevernow ("No one has the right to choose to do what is wrong." Abraham Lincoln)
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To: vrwc0915

Lexington, Mass. is ground zero for liberty. The Founders are spinning like tops after hearing this news.


34 posted on 08/10/2005 8:33:30 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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Comment #35 Removed by Moderator

To: Txsleuth
that some schools were forcing the kids to dress in Muslim dress and study the Muslim lifestyle

This was in California's junior high schools, iirc, right after 9/11.

36 posted on 08/10/2005 8:34:35 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Liberals: Too stupid to realize Dick Cheney is the real Dark Lord.)
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To: Peach

Peach, where is your source. If this is the case, it is very frieghtening and we must do somthing and notify our legislatures.

Regarding this whole matter, it is equally frieghtening that the schools are no longer responsible to the parent for what they teach.


37 posted on 08/10/2005 8:34:54 AM PDT by BoBToMatoE
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To: Tax-chick
If you don't have a "recognized" diploma, you can get a GED.

They might not get to that, but if not it would simply be an oversight on their part. It would be pretty stupid for them to expend all this effort and leave an alternative path so open (course if they weren't stupid, they wouldn't be liberals). It wouldn't be hard for them to make completion of a gay-indoctrination "seminar" (what a yucky word, in this context) a prerequisite for taking the GED.

38 posted on 08/10/2005 8:35:57 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Disregard the law of unintended consequences at your own risk.)
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To: BoBToMatoE

I wrote the letter two years ago, but I think that particular bit of information came out of Tammy Bruce's book.

If you wrote to her, she'd help you find the specific source. Or, contact your congressman and tell him you've heard this and are concerned and see what they say.


39 posted on 08/10/2005 8:36:11 AM PDT by Peach
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To: Peach

I do intend to ask my congressman, and state rep about this. thanks for the heads up.


40 posted on 08/10/2005 8:37:51 AM PDT by BoBToMatoE
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