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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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The nerve parents actually think they have some say in their kids education!
1 posted on 08/10/2005 8:04:46 AM PDT by vrwc0915
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: vrwc0915

Oh, hell no,----no one better discuss anything sexual with my 6 year old granddaughter without her parent's permission!!!

Talk about protesting...this grandma would love to protest something like THAT!


3 posted on 08/10/2005 8:07:59 AM PDT by Txsleuth (Free Republic is #1!!!!!)
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To: vrwc0915

True...but the quality of the schools in general is so poor, they might as well seek an alternative. I admire him for taking a stand and making some attempt, however. It was much easier for me (not financially, though) to write a tuition check.


4 posted on 08/10/2005 8:12:07 AM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: Txsleuth

My children will never set foot in a public schools as students.


5 posted on 08/10/2005 8:12:22 AM PDT by AZConcervative
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To: Txsleuth

My children will never set foot in a public schools as students.


6 posted on 08/10/2005 8:12:44 AM PDT by AZConcervative
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To: vrwc0915

The radical gay agenda in the schools has gotten out of control. Primarily because busy working parents either don't fully understand what's being taught or because they think they can't take on the entire school system in their town.

Tammy Bruce's book, The Death of Right and Wrong, is a good place for parents to start in understand just how dangerous this agenda is to our children. It's a book that is a must read for parents and grandparents.

Bruce' book is well researched and quotes directly from dozens of outspoken advocates of the gay agenda as well as policy setters within the Department of Education.

One such quote is from Judith Levine, author and activist, said that "sex is not harmful to children...there are ways the smallest children can partake in it."

In Vemont, a program was instituted called Outright Vermont. Schools advertise this program on bulletin boards and the program materials include direct web links to adult gay male web sites. Two years ago, NYC opened the first gay high school in the nation.

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.

Many programs have been in place for more than 20 years and the curricula is getting more radical each year. The NEA is trying to force state governments to require both home schoolers and private schools to teach pro gay agendas or refuse to validate their diplomas. The NEA has successfully sponsored a curriculum which requires children to partake in "Gay Day" which involves playacting.

In March 2002, Penn State University featured an advocate of pedophilia at a women's health conference, despite congressional disapproval and parental concerns.

In 1998 the American Psychological Association claimed that pedophilia often "does not cause intense harm on a pervasive basis".


7 posted on 08/10/2005 8:13:23 AM PDT by Peach
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To: vrwc0915
They also wanted their son removed from any "spontaneous conversations" about sexuality that involved an adult.

Good luck, folks. I suggest private school or homeschool.

8 posted on 08/10/2005 8:13:42 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Liberals: Too stupid to realize Dick Cheney is the real Dark Lord.)
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To: little jeremiah

ping


9 posted on 08/10/2005 8:14:28 AM PDT by tutstar ( <{{--->< OurFlorida.true.ws Impeach Judge Greer)
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To: vrwc0915

And the really sick thing is that Lexington Mass - of Lexington and Concord fame has a school system that doesn't bother to understand the true meaning of Liberty of the Individual versus the control of a tyrannical state.


10 posted on 08/10/2005 8:15:57 AM PDT by Waverunner
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To: vrwc0915
Just goes to show you that liberals continue to be tolerant of everything except Christianity.

A couple of weeks ago, my neighbor (who is a retired school teacher) kept telling my husband and me that we shouldn't send our youngest son (entering kindergarten) to a parochial school, as we did with our other 2 kids. He said that there is just so much more to offer at public school. Yeah, right. I totally understand why so many people opt out of the public school system and either send their children to private schools or home school them. That is our only hope against the ever-increasing brainwashing going on in schools today. Molding young minds to think their agenda is correct.

Hooray for this dad for doing his job and protecting his child!

11 posted on 08/10/2005 8:16:12 AM PDT by Heartland Mom (My heroes have always been cowboys.)
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To: Peach

What a minute...the NEA wants to force private schools to have to teach this crapola or their diplomas would be invalid???

What about Catholic schools....and do you think they are gonna get those crazy Muslims in their madrassas to cooperate????

I have never been an "activist" in the strictest sense, but I have to say---that messing with our children in THIS way is as much "abuse" as a sexual pervert....IMHO!!


12 posted on 08/10/2005 8:17:31 AM PDT by Txsleuth (Free Republic is #1!!!!!)
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To: Txsleuth

This calls for a big FReep.


13 posted on 08/10/2005 8:17:31 AM PDT by AliVeritas (Ignorance is a condition. Stupidity is a strategy.)
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To: Tax-chick

Many programs have been in place for more than 20 years and the curricula is getting more radical each year. The NEA is trying to force state governments to require both home schoolers and private schools to teach pro gay agendas or refuse to validate their diplomas. The NEA has successfully sponsored a curriculum which requires children to partake in "Gay Day" which involves playacting.


14 posted on 08/10/2005 8:18:15 AM PDT by Peach
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To: Txsleuth

I wrote the above as part of a letter to the editor published in our local paper about two years ago. When I researched information to write that letter, I nearly fell off the chair when I read about the NEA's attempts to force their agenda on home schoolers and private schools.

Won't fly in the south or elsewhere, but they won't stop trying and will use the courts eventually to force their way.


15 posted on 08/10/2005 8:20:03 AM PDT by Peach
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To: AZConcervative

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.


16 posted on 08/10/2005 8:20:22 AM PDT by HungarianGypsy
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To: Txsleuth; Peach

"Many programs have been in place for more than 20 years and the curricula is getting more radical each year. The NEA is trying to force state governments to require both home schoolers and private schools to teach pro gay agendas or refuse to validate their diplomas. The NEA has successfully sponsored a curriculum which requires children to partake in "Gay Day" which involves playacting."

Peach: Do you have a source for this?

Txsleuth: They don't have the rocks to force this on the muslims. I must say though, it's time to draw the line!


17 posted on 08/10/2005 8:22:01 AM PDT by JZelle
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To: AliVeritas

You got that right!!!

We've been telling out children for YEARS that if anyone, family or otherwise "touches" you the wrong way...to tell mommy and daddy...

NOW, the schools are basically advocating that !!!!

My blood is boiling right now....and I hope this parent takes this all the way to the (gulp) Supreme Court.


18 posted on 08/10/2005 8:22:27 AM PDT by Txsleuth (Free Republic is #1!!!!!)
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To: Peach

I've seen some reports on the NEA's proposals ... it'll never fly. But it shows what they're really about, and what the government school system is really about: total control.


19 posted on 08/10/2005 8:22:59 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Liberals: Too stupid to realize Dick Cheney is the real Dark Lord.)
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To: vrwc0915
The very purpose of the public school is the systematic destruction of the human personality in order to create a better world.

Get over it.

20 posted on 08/10/2005 8:23:29 AM PDT by headsonpikes ("The U.S. Constitution poses no serious threat to our form of government.")
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