Parental Rights vs. Public Schools

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1. rightsforparents says:

   8/14/2005 at 4:19 pm

   This story is incredible. Not only did the school board have him arrested, they are now intent on wasting tens of thousands of our taxpayer dollars in prosecuting him.

   The only thing David Parker did was ask for permission to have his 5-year-old son in Kindergarten “opt-out”, something guaranteed under our Massachusetts state law.

   The denial of parental and legal rights should never be tolerated. That’s why I will support him in whatever way I can.

   Watch out, your town might be next!
   
   http://www.davidparkerfund.org/

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2. kilowatt says:

   8/14/2005 at 10:17 pm

   I have some rather upsetting news for ‘rightsforparents’ and all others sending their children right here in Hudson Public Schools. Your ‘rights’ as you know them are already gone. This same type of activity is going on here now.
   Our school administration currently takes the “in loco parentis” stance and it is used to its extreme edge whenever they feel the need.
   You may find it quite eye opening to read Wisconsin State Statute 120.44 which gives a hair raising view of the powers and duties of school boards. Here are a couple of quotes for you.

   81 Op. Att’y Gen. 126, 127 (1994) Educational goals and expectations. (1) Purpose. Public education is a fundamental responsibility of the state. The constitution vests in the state superintendent the supervision of public instruction and directs the legislature to provide for the establishment of district schools. The effective operation of the public schools is dependent upon a common understanding of what public schools should be and do. Establishing such goals and expectations is a necessary and proper complement to the state’s financial contribution to education. Each school board should provide curriculum, course requirements and instruction consistent with the goals and expectations established under sub. (2). Parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in the school district share with the state and school board the responsibility for pupils meeting the goals and expectations under sub. (2).

   The key word there is “share”.
   And here is another quote found later in the Attorney General’s opinion of the powers of school administrations.

   81 Op. Att’y Gen. 126, 131 (1994)
   Although parental authority and responsibility to direct the upbringing, conduct, and education of a child is generally recognized, such authority is not unlimited. For example, in Arnold v. Board of Educ. of Escambia County Ala., 880 F.2d 305 (11th Cir. 1989), the court held that although a parent might have a federal constitutional cause of action if a school counselor coerced her child into obtaining an abortion and coerced the child into refraining from discussing the abortion with the parent, there was no constitutional mandate that school counselors notify parents of a minor who receives counseling regarding pregnancy. The court explained that parental authority does not give a parent the right to demand that their child’s educational program be tailored to the preferences of the parents. Rather:
   81 Op. Att’y Gen. 126, 131 (1994) [A] reasonable accommodation must be found by balancing the traditional rights of parents in the rearing of their children and the interest of the state in controlling public schools. While counseling intrudes somewhat on parental control over a child, we acknowledge the important role a guidance counselor plays as a trusted confidant of many students.

   Is there any doubt of the dangers to freedom when sending our children to government run schools?

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3. admin says:

   8/14/2005 at 11:29 pm

   I did some research over at the http://www.davidparkerfund.org/ site and was haunted by the parallels as to the tactics used by the Administration and Boards of both the districts of Lexington and Hudson.

   During the three hour meeting, the Principal and the Lexington Director of Education brought the Superintendent, William Hurley, into the discussion via telephone. A hand-written agreement was faxed over to the Superintendent as negotiations continued. David Parker was led to believe that the school administration would adhere to the Laws of Massachusetts and honor his request for parental notification, allowing his child to be opted-out of teacher-initiated discussions of sexuality. Instead, the police were called, the school rejected his requests, and David Parker was arrested.

   Additionally, It would take 7 weeks after the event before the local rag, The Lexington Minuteman would publish an edited refutation of the facts that would allow Mr. Parker his view of the facts. During these 7 weeks, the paper was and still is full of anti-parent, pro-gay, political correctness attacks against Mr. Parker. We now find, this defense has been labeled “The article you requested is now archived or expired off the site.” and it is not available. I dare not look at the other viewpoints of this newspaper.

   Fortunately, It was published on the blog portion of his Web Site.

   Also you will find one of the links at his Web site called Berit Kjos, has a good super article about not only Mr Parker’s specific problem but about United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s plans for defining what tolerance and diversity is, but also on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

   While parents lose their right to set safe boundaries for their children, the State assumes full power to “protect” the child from contrary parents and define the rules. Thus Article 13 concludes with: “This right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others; or for protection of national security or public order.”

   This is chilling stuff. It is paramount to the state taking away your rights as a parent and allowing the state to mold your children into whatever they deem politically correct. In fact, this is such an important story, I am making it a sticky for a day or two.

   The parallels of what is happening here and in Lexington are extraordinary. This case is pecking away at the foundations of liberty that made this country great. I urge everyone to read everything they can at http://www.davidparkerfund.org and the links found in it. If you can’t stand up and defend against this blatant tyranny you can’t stand up for anything.

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4. Luke says:

   8/15/2005 at 8:26 am

   If you don’t think your rights are being usurped already here in Hudson, you need to take a look at this video of the June 14th school board meeting. The only thing that the public educators want from you is your MONEY and your KIDDIES, forget the rest.

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5. spiritofpublicus says:

   8/15/2005 at 5:29 pm

   I have said this several times in the past, the latest in my post about Armageddon, why do we think government sponsored education in this country is in effect any different than the state sponsored educationn of Cuba, the ruins of Eastern Europe, or any other one-party state? Why would we think that individuals who are no more educated than the average person and certainly less than most professionals, no more superior in moral judgement, and certainly as parents who have their own issues, are of such character to completely replace the parent in every aspect of raising a child? The face of tyranny is staring at us from the government school house door!

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