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David Parker Arrested for Responsible Parenting
Michelle Malkin summarizes the story:
The book, “Who’s in a Family?,” teaches preschoolers about “multicultural contemporary family units” including nuclear, intergenerational, mixed-race, and lesbian and gay arrangements. David Parker, father of a 5-year-old boy in Concord, Mass., was arrested Wednesday at his son’s kindergarten over a disagreement about the appropriateness of the material for his child.
Boston Globe story:
The dispute arose because [Parker and his wife] asked school officials to notify them about classroom discussions about same-sex marriage and what they called other adult themes. They also wanted the option to exclude their boy, now 6, from those talks.
Parker said he met with school officials to gain those assurances and then refused to leave until he got them. Parker stayed at Estabrook School for more than two hours, according to Superintendent William J. Hurley, as officials and Lexington police urged him to leave. Finally, they arrested him for trespassing.Parker, who refused to bail himself out of jail Wednesday night, said he spent the night in custody to prove a point.
Michelle Malkin, regarding her own parenting, has this to say:
I don’t know about you, but we are preoccupied enough as it is teaching our four-and-half-year-old daughter to mind her manners, share, remember her phone number and address, and put the caps back on her markers. She can’t even tie her own shoes. No way is she ready to start learning about “alternative lifestyles.”
I was going to excerpt relevant portions of this email exchange, but it’s hard to do so without leaving something out. Click through and read the exchange for yourself. Here’s an attempt at summarizing.
January 17th:
We want to state for the record that [son’s name] shall be removed from any and all classroom or school functions which discuss or display homosexuality. We anticipate that you will respect our wishes.
We believe we have the right to answers from you to the following series of questions:
1) Is it the intention of Estabrook to include homosexual/lesbian family dynamics as part of the school curriculum?
2) Is your position in this matter that parents don’t have the right to intervene in teaching homosexual family values because of state law?
3) Is equal emphasis and sensitivity being given to Judeo/Christian/Islamic and secular communities and their respective family values— many of which do not endorse gay family values?
4) Do you commit to us that [son’s name] will not be subjected to homosexual family values at Estabrook?
5) Who else has viewed these materials and deemed it appropriate for the children in the school system to take home and view/read?
It is not necessarily you, solely, whom we wish to focus our concerns on, however; we feel as the principal- we need answers from your perspective. We will be posing these same question to other authorities.
In the interim time period, a series of back and forths between the principal and the Parkers regarding date and content of a meeting.
March 4:
We find it necessary to write to you and the Lexington Public School to inform you of the following:
We do not authorize any teacher or adult within the Lexington Public School system to expose our sons, [older son] and [younger son] (begins school in 2006) to any sexual orientation/homoseexual material/same sex unions between parents.
We shall be notified in advance of any such activity in the Estabrook School.
March 4 again:
We would like to clarify that our previous e-mail which states: “we do not give the Lexington Public School system permission to discuss homosexuality issues (i.e. - trans gender/bisexual/gay headed households) to our son [son’s name]” - is a parental assertion; not a matter open to legal interpretation or administrative policy. Let us, David and Tonia Parker, parents of [son’s name], be clear in purpose and prose on this matter:
Discussions concerning homosexuality issues will not take place in front of our son, [son’s name] (5 yrs old), at Estabrook. This includes material given to [our son] to covertly transport into our household (i.e.- diversity book bag). Such doctrine is against our Christian family beliefs. We will be notified when there are plans to have homosexual material discussed with the students - when [our son] is present - so that we can take action to ensure his spiritual safety. You are not permitted to infringe upon our religious beliefs and parental rights or obviate our freedom of choice, to exclude our son from material that would expose him to beliefs contrary to the Word of God in our Christian faith. Our parental rights and Christian belief system will be respected in this diversity- oriented, anti-biased school community. We know other parents, of various faiths and values, that endorse this position. This is not solely a Christian assertion of rights.
April 12th:
Dave and I would like to schedule a meeting with you at your convenience. Dave attended the anti-bias meeting on 4/11/05. They informed Dave that books with homosexual issues/families will be placed in every classroom in our school.
Were you aware of this? Who approved this? Various members of the anti-bias group also told Dave that our parental rights assertion would not be honored or respected at Estabrook. By what authority does the anti-bias group deny us of our rights? Who is responsible for the official response to our parental rights assertion pertaining to our son, [son’s name]?
April 22, principal responded:
We could both meet with you on Wednesday, April 27 at 2:30 or 3. Would that work for you?
It was at this meeting that Mr. Parker was arrested.
Quibble if you wish with Mr. Parker’s beliefs, but don’t challenge his right to possess them — and act on them. We need more parents who feel as protective of their children as he does.
The Pink Flamingo:
The vast gulf between the left and reality is making any possibility of my children ever going into any public school vanish. This is not as some might claim the Right Wing evangelicals rolling back the clock. This is much more like parents finally understanding what is being attempted by the left wing.
And apparently the indoctrination must start early. It would be perfectly appropriate for these teachers to teach respect for all others, sharing, compassion, and other universally desirable traits in a developing child. To do this, however, does not require detailing specifics about homosexual-headed or any other types of families. As Gwendolyn noted that there is no way these teachers would point out economic differences and specify that ‘Joey’s’ family has lots of money and lives in a mansion, but ‘Carolyn’s’ parents rent a tenement apartment, would they? So what is the purpose of this specificity? It is to remove the parents from teaching social mores to their own children. They can’t take the chance that you might teach your children something that hasn’t received the “Seal of Approval.”
How many times do we hear educators complain how parents are not interested in their child’s education? Well, for a lot of educators this is just a load of excrement. Parental involvement is their worse fear.
I certainly hope he withdraws his child from that school system while this injunction is still in order. I’m also interested in seeing whether the school can back up the claim that teaching kindergarteners about alternative lifestyles is both necessary and not dependent on parental permission (as sexuality/sex education classes would be).
It’s not just the weather that compels 800 people a day to move to Florida.
For a different perspective, Daily Dose of Queer wonders:
How do you get to a place, mentally, where you are so bothered by your child being present for homosexual discussions at school that you refuse to leave your son’s school until they agree to notify you before any discussion including homosexuality so you can save him from such a disgusting topic? It seems literally crazy to me.
Palm Tree Pundit contrasts this arrest to these non-arrests.
I’m very much not opposed to homosexuals and I haven’t yet made up my mind about the societal benefits or burden of homosexual marriage. I simply object strongly to well-meaning governmental busybodies exposing my very young children to delicate matters of sexuality that are not yet on my developmental schedule for them.
http://myopiczeal.blogsome.com/2005/04/30/david-parker-arrested-for-responsible-parenting/trackback/
“Who’s In A Family” Feud
Having been away for the last two days, with my parents in Connecticut, I have been a little out of touch with both local and national affairs.
Trackback by Joust The Facts — April 30, 2005 @ 7:52 am
Really excellent summary of the matter at issue, and of the post-arrest discussion. This is a great contribution to the debate.
Comment by Bookworm — April 30, 2005 @ 11:32 am
Around the Blogosphere
Zell Miller Michelle Malkin, Cao’s Blog Laura Ingraham Michelle Malkin “There’s a war on!” Michelle Malkin Protest Warrior’s new videos…
Trackback by JackLewis.net — April 30, 2005 @ 5:43 pm
Very nice post. I’m with Michelle Malkin; there is NO excuse for messing with kids’ head about alternative sexuality at this age, and especially without parental permission.
Reason 254 to keep kids out of public schools as they have devolved in the past 3-4 years (at least around here).
Comment by Tom Blumer — April 30, 2005 @ 8:54 pm
Father Arrested as Schools Promotes Morally Bankrupt Agenda
Christian parents are concerned about the promotion of homosexual marriage in the classrooms of their children, and they should be. However, this latest controversy reveals something much worse: the ethical bankruptcy of the school system, the forcib…
Trackback by bLogicus — May 1, 2005 @ 2:04 am
Parental Rights Smashed
Last week, at an elementary school in Lexington, Massachusetts, we were provided with an example of why the government schools have gone so far afield of their purpose (and why my kids won’t be attending them). The culture of teachers’ unions promot…
Trackback by Secure Liberty — May 2, 2005 @ 3:32 pm
David Parker Arrested For Being A Good DAD
From an article in the Boston Herald:
David Parker, 42, confronted officials after his son brought home “Who’s in a Family,'’ a storybook that includes characters who are gay parents.
Yesterday, Parker refused to leave a meeting after Lexin…
Trackback by The Uncooperative Blogger — May 3, 2005 @ 2:15 pm
Michelle Malkin writes: “The book, “Who’s in a Family?,” teaches preschoolers about “multicultural contemporary family units” including nuclear, intergenerational, mixed-race, and lesbian and gay arrangements. David Parker, father of a 5-year-old boy in Concord, Mass., was arrested Wednesday at his son’s kindergarten over a disagreement about the appropriateness of the material for his child.”
However, Mr. Parker’s first email states: “We want to state for the record that [son’s name] shall be removed from any and all classroom or school functions which discuss or display homosexuality”
Now this is far, far broader than what Malkin states. For example, suppose both of Suzie’s moms want to attend the school play. This is a “display of homosexuality” at a “school function”, is it not? Therefore Mr. Parker’s child would have to removed immediately the two ladies entered the auditorium. But wait. Suppose a teacher announces that there will be a school play. Suzie asks “Can both my moms come or just one?” The teacher must immediatly remove Mr. Parker’s child from the classroom before answering the question — if it’s not too late already.
And this IS what Mr. Parker meant. He is very clear on this.
You can agree or disagree with the reasonableness of these demands. But what you can’t disagree with is this: Michelle Malkin is a liar.
[MZ adds: Technically, Mr. Parker was arrested for trespassing which was as a result of a disagreement of the appropriateness of the material. Your comment seems to indicate you think she was wrong about the fact that he disagreed over the material’s appropriateness for his child. I have read your comment several times and still think I’m missing the point you are trying to tie into Michelle Malkin’s post. She did get it a bit wrong on the cause of arrest, but I actually can disagree with you here, I do not think she is lying in her post. I’m approving the comment so that others can add their insight as well.]
Comment by herostratus — May 4, 2005 @ 11:39 pm
This sad story made the local news in Boston again tonight. Michelle Malkin IS wrong on many counts. David Parker and his family live in Lexington. He was arrested for trespassing at a Lexington school after a day long sit down with school officials. The school was to be closed down at 6:30 p.m. Parker was asked to leave. He said, “If I’m not under arrest, I’m not leaving.” He was arrested for trespassing and escorted from the school by the local police. After conferring with local anti-gay activists, he chose to not post bail and spend the night in jail. This is civil disobedience. Nothing wrong with that. But call it what it is. Don’t pretend that David Parker was arrested for disagreeing with school (or local school board) policies. The diversity book bag program has been in the Lexington schools since 1992. David Parker moved his family to Lexington last year. The Parker’s had to request that the diversity book bag with the nefarious picture book, “Who’s in a Family?”, be sent home with their child. They also were supposed to review the materials in the bag and decide for themselves whether they wished to share any of the literature with their child. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts. Celebrate it or damn it to hell, it’s the law unless and until someone manages to undo it. Even if same-sex marriages were not acknowledged by the Commonwealth, Lexington has families headed by same-sex couples, just as it has single-parent families, mixed race families, families of various ethnicities, families with handicapped children, and families with adopted children from around the world. David Parker’s children will encounter children from all of these different family groups in the public school system. A main goal of the Lexington schools is to be safe and welcoming to children of all backgrounds so that every child in the system can get a quality education. If David Parker is uncomfortable with the families of some of the children his children will meet at school, then it behooves him to explain before the start of the school year, in age-appropriate language his children can understand, how the Parkers’ family values differ from those of the families of some of their classmates. That’s parental responsibility. And speaking of parental responsibility, perhaps David Parker should have investigated the quality and curriculum of the Lexington schools as well as the predominant political leaning of the town before moving in. Most real estate agencies have detailed demographic portraits of the communities they serve. In a free society, it’s hard to have sympathy for people who don’t do their homework and then try to blame others for their problems.
Comment by Rolo — June 23, 2005 @ 1:04 am
All of this explains so well why the lousy weather isn’t the only thing I hate about MA.
Comment by Recovered Ex-liberal from MA — June 27, 2005 @ 11:56 am
With Respect to the comments by Rolo— The errors are too numerous to address. We had absolutely no warning or idea that this material could be exposed to our 5-yr old in school by teachers against our will. In addition, we NEVER asked for a gag-order on children of same-sex households. Tonia and I are very caring to these children. (Only when “authority figures” weigh-in on their opinions on these issues to our child) I am encouraged that most of you got it right. God Bless- And yes-this is David Parker.
Comment by David Parker — June 28, 2005 @ 7:02 pm
“We had absolutely no warning or idea that this material could be exposed to our 5-yr old in school by teachers against our will.”
“This material?” What is “this material?” A picture book that shows family groupings that match what kids may encounter among their classmates in classrooms and towns across Massachusetts? (I’d say the whole country, but obviously some here don’t believe there are same-sex families where they live, and I would hate to disillusion them.) And the problem with a picture of two moms and their kid washing the family dog is what, precisely? And I never said that David Parker ASKED for a gag order on children from same-sex families. But what he has asked for (according to the e-mails he generously provided to the Article 8 Alliance) is tantamount to cutting off these children from any classroom sharing. According to at least one of the e-mails, Mr. Parker wants to be notified and given the option of removing his child if an ADULT mentions a same-sex family situation. So it’s Timmy’s “Family Day” in his kindergarten class. He brings in pictures of his family (which happens to have two dads), and is asked by the teacher to talk about his family. Uh oh! Quick, call the Parkers, escort Junior Parker from the class, etc., etc. Or, what if Timmy just decided to bring his two dads to class? Once again, try to reach Mr. Parker on the phone, escort Junior from class, etc. What positive message does this send to Timmy? To the others in class? To Junior Parker? Oh, that’s right, I forgot, “Tonia and I are very caring to these children.” As in we pity them and their hell-bound families and we’d do anything to help them short of getting an education in the same classroom as our poor susceptible child. Once again, I’ll give Mr. Parker the benefit of the doubt and assume he didn’t do his homework before he moved to Lexington. He should take some responsibility for his actions. Lexington isn’t the only community he could have moved to in the greater Boston area and Estabrook isn’t the only elementary school in Lexington (there are a total of six, I believe). No responsible parent would move his school-age children anywhere without knowing what the schools were like, what the community was like, etc. So what do we have here — ineptitude or intent?
Comment by Rolo — June 29, 2005 @ 11:24 pm
Dear Rolo: What we have here - is neither ineptitude nor intent. What we have here - are two parents having a dialog who passionately love their children. Putting words in my mouth such as- “we pity them and their hell-bound families”- are hurtful, cruel,and wrong. I really have been advised strongly not to write anything - but I do want you to know - I believe you truly want the best for children, however; we differ in certain beliefs and on what is best. When it comes to my own child, I am the authority- my wife says so ;-). As far as accommodation of certain situations that may arise- “where there’s a will, there’s a way”. What I have found is - their simply is not any will to be tolerant of my position and beliefs. The Lexington Minuteman paper will not even publish an article that has been sent stating - “I lived with a man who was my closest friend-my gay roommate. When I noticed the yellowing in the whites of his eyes, I urged him to visit the doctor. I subsequently recieved the preventative series of gamma-globulin shots, so that I too would not be overcome with hepatitus”. I wonder why the Lexington Minuteman will not publish this. I wish I could engage in further discussion with you as I know you will be compelled to respond - but I can not - for many reasons. Sincerely, David Parker.
Comment by David Parker — June 30, 2005 @ 8:27 pm
Love your neighbor as yourself. And you don’t get to pick your neighbors. I’ll say it again: it is your responsibility to educate your children regarding your family’s doctrines and beliefs. It is the responsibility of the schools to provide a safe and welcoming environment to ALL students so that ALL students in the schools, regardless of their racial, ethnic, or family backgrounds, can get a quality education. You want a quality education for your children, that’s why they’re enrolled in the Lexington public schools (I hope that’s not putting words in your mouth). Their classmates’ families want the same for their children. To single out a child or a child’s family because of the personal and/or religious squeamishness of a parent flies in the face of the open, welcoming, and inclusive goals of the public schools. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” you say. Let’s hear the SPECIFIC way that you propose that would not exclude and discriminate against numerous children in the public school system. This is not a rhetorical exercise. These children, these families, exist, now, in our communities. You cannot wave a magic wand and make them go away. But we all have our fantasies. Good luck in fulfilling yours.
Comment by Rolo — June 30, 2005 @ 10:38 pm
I have carefully read the comments of all here. Mr rolo wants a quality education for ALL. Since when is gay or any relationships anything part of a quality education? The ring wing croud years ago wanted both their tax dollars, and christian values in the class room for values. The courts rejected that because they felt it religious in nature. We never really argued it merits good or bad, we simple felt it was not to be via the courts. Today 2005, we are now told gay awareness MUST be taugh in secret surroundings with no recording of the event to ANY parents or news org. Did I again miss the vote of black opps in public schools? The point is parents ARE not to be involved. Are you mr roth out of your mind? I as a parent HAVE NO rights of choice in this matter with my own child?. Did not the gay left SCREAM from the highest mountain a persons right to choose? “Oh he has the right justy I beg to differ”. HE can spend thousands of dollars sending his kid to private school. Are you telling me the gay platform is NOW rich do as you please with private schools, but if the kid is poor or average like most are, than his kids belong to us? I don’t entirely claim to understands mr. parkers actions, but he seems most sincere. and i will defend unto death his rights to choose. I just recently got back from iraq. I am watching people die everyday for a minority group DEMANDing their way of government and social values, rule over the rights of common people. I have no idea of your legal background or business, but i do know racial steering it outlawed by federal laws, and anti gay laws are also well enforced. I will never believe before mr parker did this, that any org, would have told him “you will be in jail if you disagree with gay awareness”. I personally can’t wait to see how this effects you state. I am in new york and rather neutral, but am making a visit to our board to see if this happens here. Your state is a disgrace to parents everywhere. We want a school that teaches social value’s , but christian’s must never be given the same choice or access to our schools. To say this has nothing to do sex. is to say we fight for peace in iraq. Sounds like a good slogan, but under examination it falls apart. This has little if anything to do with civil actions against the school. This is 100% the rights of a father protecting his child for HIS beliefs or reasons. Has the state NOW decided it KNOWS best for ALL children. In fairness people the courts really blew this one. You NOT only slaped the rights of a christian father to raise he son his way, you also slaped us moderates who’s ONLY core belief is the parents rights to choose what is best for their child, not the schools, not the government. I can’t speak for all who come into contact with gays, but my neighbors are gay males and my daughter has never once asked me anything personal about thier life style or sexual habits. She did ask them directly if either of them were married and had kids. They said no and she never asked again. Oddly when we spoke they told me it wasn’t their place to educate my daughter or offend me. Perhaps that is the difference here, Our gays may be.. more educated, or just better citizens. She is now 7 and always has eyes on pete. I mean in all sincerity WHO targets little kids? Now we know!!!! The idiots of state governemnt and the school boards do. When the good citizen of mass avail themselves of common sense, or the surpreme court nails your stupid hide to a wall FOR VIOLATING mr parkers rights of a parent, I leave this thought. The schools are NOT responcible FOR FAMILY VALUES, the parents are. If little jonny ask fred why he has two dads….let fred answer him. If fred can’t answer, or jonny becomes disruptive, call me his dad. I WILL handle little jonny social awareness. If the teacher says something wrong or for what ever reason jonny freaks out who is going to be responecible. I Am…. sorry people, no matter how you want to play it sooner or later it come’s down to me his parent. I do profoundly thank you mr parker for your courage in this matter. The gay left has now moved from attacking christians values to attacking our 5 year old children. I hope after you fire that superitendant you find someone less educated in intelect and iq scores, and more adapt at handleing social issues with parents as well as kids. This is above all the greatest example of who is teaching our children social intolerence
Comment by justy — August 11, 2005 @ 10:21 pm
I want to echo Justy’s comment “I do profoundly thank you mr parker for your courage in this matter.” He is courageous indeed, suffering from malicious attacks and false accusations about what did and did not happen the night he got arrested and afterward.
This is a story about parental rights. The Lexington School Board and city of Lexington are spending our tax dollars to try and punish David Parker for taking a stand on parental rights. He, on the other hand, is supported “only” by family and friends.
Who would think that, in America, a person could be arrested for trying to be involved in his son’s education? It sounds so … shall I say it … “intolerant”?
To get more of the real facts behind this story, or to help out (and it is needed to help win the fight against intolerance) go to http://www.davidparkerfund.com/
Comment by Mike — August 13, 2005 @ 4:07 pm
Justy and Mike would be ccloser to correct if families with same-gender parents didn’t exist in Lexington with their kids attending the same school as Mr. Parker’s. In kindergarten and first grade, family is a BIG issue (Check the curriculum outline for the Lexington schools). This is the world kids know and it’s a world they want to share. Kids bring in pictures of their families, they have birthday parties that their parents are invited to attend, they talk about their families and other kids’ families. What you (and Mr. Parker) are advocating is a shunning of kids who happen to have two moms or two dads. You don’t have to like the fact that a Caucasian man and an Asian woman have a child in your school, that an African-American man and a Caucasian woman have a child in your school, that two deaf parents have a child in your school, or that two dads or two moms have a child in your school, but IT’S A FACT. Why shouldn’t any of these kids be able to share their story with their classmates without having a teacher reach for a phone to call Mr. Parker or having Mr. Parker’s child whisked from the classroom. And that is what Mr. Parker is demanding, because the minute an adult utters word one in this “spontaneous” discussion, Mr. Parker’s interpretation of the Parental Notification law kicks in. Maybe you don’t care about the negative message this sends to the kids with same-gendered parents, but the Lexington community does. Maybe you like the message this sends to Mr. Parker’s children, but the Lexington community does not. Oh wait, you’re going to say that mixed-ethnicity parents, mixed-race parents, or disabled parents aren’t the same as same-gendered parents because being same-gendered parents is a “lifestyle choice.” Did you see the movie “Fever Pitch?” The one with the guy totally obsessed with the Boston Red Sox? He walked, talked, dressed, woke and slept Red Sox. THAT is a lifestyle. If you honestly believe that an attraction between people of the same gender is a CHOICE, then tell me, please, when did you choose to be heterosexual? And why would anyone specifically choose to live a life where the majority of their society fears, despises, and reviles them? It’s fine that Justy and Mike want same-gendered couples and families to disappear, go back into the closet, hide under a rock, whatever. But it’s not going to happen. And the community values of Lexington, Massachusetts, support those people and those families, whether Justy, Mike, or David Parker like it or not.
Comment by Arbusto — September 12, 2005 @ 3:07 pm
By the way, Mr. Parker is now on record acknowledging that he does not believe that families with same-gendered parents are as good or as legitimate as his. The town of Lexington and its schools disagree. I think he and his friends (Article 8 Alliance, Mass. Family Institute, and other anti-gay organizations) are going to have his hands full for a long time.
Comment by Arbusto — September 12, 2005 @ 3:13 pm
LexFest 1 October will be ideal time to protest publicly and in print to reveal the Nazilike tactics/strategy of the homosexuals to mix, integrate this issue with (1) the CPA, (2) the attempt to TAX OVERRIDE AND (3) DEBT EXCLUSION - to confuse and obfuscate the genuine issues.
One recent tax override attempt was defeated because the deviousness and dishonesty of Town Managers was revealed, i.e. harsh removal of the nativity scene from the Green, imposition of a phoney “pay as you go” trash tax, removal of a 200 yo tree of beauty from depot square, denying even a review of a petition from 600 citizens of Lexington, etc etc.
I am willing to support a powerful effort to defeat the the viscious town government soundly backed by the homosexual faggots hiding behind the Jewish armour of DIVERSITY. Please call 781 863 8381 if interested. The campaign must start now and carry for next 10 months.
Comment by john mccook — September 24, 2005 @ 6:51 am
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Comment by testanchor888 — October 15, 2005 @ 7:26 pm