Teacher discharges gay fairy tale in crowded classroom, corrupts 20 children

Hammock Parties · 04-27-2006, 10:11 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060427/...ssachusetts_dc

BOSTON (Reuters) - Two families filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Massachusetts town and its public school system after a teacher read a gay-themed fairy tale to children without notifying them first.

The suit against Lexington, about 12 miles west of Boston, seeks unspecified damages after the book "King & King" was read to a classroom of about 20 mostly 7 years olds. It is believed the first of its kind, the families' lawyers said.

The complaint said the school had "begun a process of intentionally indoctrinating very young children to affirm the notion that homosexuality is right and normal in direct denigration of the plaintiffs' deeply held faith."
It also charges that Lexington broke a 1996 Massachusetts law requiring that parents be notified of sex-education lessons. It names Lexington Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash and several other school and town officials.

Ash said the school was under no legal obligation to inform parents the book would be read. "This school district is committed to a welcoming environment for all kids. We embrace the diverse nature of the community," he told Reuters.

"King & King" tells the story of a crown prince who rejects a bevy of beautiful princesses, rebuffing each suitor until falling in love with a prince. The two marry, sealing the union with a kiss, and live happily ever after.
Ash has said reading the book was not intended as sex education but as a way to educate children about the world in which they live, especially in Massachusetts, the only U.S. state where gays and lesbians can legally wed.

It was read during a lesson on different types of weddings.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston alleges violations of the federal civil rights of the two sets of parents, David and Tonia Parker, and Rob and Robin Wirthlin. The families are devout Judeo-Christians, it said.

"I was concerned that I had not broached this topic with my young child yet and I was concerned that the point of view that was being presented was different from our family's personal moral values," Robin Wirthlin told a news conference.

The suit also accuses the town and school officials of violating the Massachusetts civil rights code and the state's parental notification law, according to the parents' attorney, Boston law firm Denner Associates.
"This is plainly a civil-rights matter," their lawyer, Jeffrey Denner, told Reuters.

The issue erupted when Robin Wirthlin complained to the school's principal after her 7-year-old son told her about the reading last month. She then turned to the conservative Massachusetts-based advocacy group Parents Rights Coalition, which issued a statement on the case to the media last week.

David Parker has been entangled with the town's school system since he was arrested a year ago for trespassing when he refused to leave school grounds until authorities promised to excuse his son from classroom discussions on same-sex parents.

His son, who at the time was about 5 years old, had brought home a "diversity book bag" that included the book "Who's in a Family?" The book includes pictures of same-sex parents along with other types of families.
"King & King" was ranked eighth among the top 10 books people wanted removed from libraries in 2004, according to the American Library Association. Its Berkeley, California publisher, Tricycle Press, said complaints over the 32-page book first surfaced in 2004 in North Carolina.
Written by two Dutch women, the book has sold about 15,000 copies in the United States since it was translated and published in 2002.

Fish · 04-27-2006, 10:12 PM

That's gay.....

Simplex3 · 04-27-2006, 10:14 PM

If I hear the word "diverse" again I may puke. This has got to be one of the most over-used words in America. "Price gouging" and "windfall profits" are coming up strong, however.

04-27-2006, 10:15 PM

Wow. That's amazing. I'm all for stopping the persecution of gays, but cramming that crap down the throats of our children is just as wrong IMO.

**Rausch** · 04-27-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

That's gay.....

It's redundant...

Hammock Parties · 04-27-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Wow. That's amazing. I'm all for stopping the persecution of gays, but cramming that crap down the throats of our children is just as wrong IMO.

Yeah, I think I agree. While filing a lawsuit is WAY over the top, I think children should be required to get signed permission slips for this sort of thing.

jspchief · 04-27-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

"I was concerned that I had not broached this topic with my young child yet and I was concerned that the point of view that was being presented was different from our family's personal moral values," Robin Wirthlin told a news conference.

Yea, because 30 minutes of storytime is probably going to override the values you'll instill in your children over their entire childhood.

Fish · 04-27-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

It's redundant...

and redundant...

Simplex3 · 04-27-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Yeah, I think I agree. While filing a lawsuit is WAY over the top, I think children should be required to get signed permission slips for this sort of thing.

Just to play devil's advocate here:

What about Cinderella? The story of a chick who meets a guy and marries him after only knowing him for a few hours, but they live happily ever after? Give me a break, talk about giving kids a warped sense of reality.

**Reaper16** · 04-27-2006, 10:19 PM

I'm a person who finds nothing wrong with homsexuality, but I disagree with this. Kids that young aren't old enough to comprehend relationships like that, let alone straight ones.

This is 100% a case of a teacher projecting his/her values and beliefs onto students. Seven year old students. It's not only unprofessional and of questionable moral ground, it's pathetic.

**Rausch** · 04-27-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Yeah, I think I agree. While filing a lawsuit is WAY over the top, I think children should be required to get signed permission slips for this sort of thing.

Or just wait to discuss it until sex-ed age.

KCChiefsMan · 04-27-2006, 10:20 PM

I'm definately not gay, but I'm not homophobic. I am educated, which I believe most people need to be, to understand homosexuality. Fact, it's a genetic disorder. We don't have hatred towards people with other genetic disorders, why this one? I don't think it's harmful that book was read to the class.

Now come on now, everybody is going to throw some gay jokes at me, so bring it on!

**Reaper16** · 04-27-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Or just wait to discuss it until sex-ed age.

Hammock Parties · 04-27-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsMan

Fact, it's a genetic disorder.

Is being bisexual a genetic disorder, too?

jspchief · 04-27-2006, 10:24 PM

God forbid you accidentally give these kids the notion that gay people exist.

Much better to shield them from reality.

04-27-2006, 10:11 PM
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $690478	Teacher discharges gay fairy tale in crowded classroom, corrupts 20 children http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060427/...ssachusetts_dc BOSTON (Reuters) - Two families filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Massachusetts town and its public school system after a teacher read a gay-themed fairy tale to children without notifying them first. The suit against Lexington, about 12 miles west of Boston, seeks unspecified damages after the book "King & King" was read to a classroom of about 20 mostly 7 years olds. It is believed the first of its kind, the families' lawyers said. The complaint said the school had "begun a process of intentionally indoctrinating very young children to affirm the notion that homosexuality is right and normal in direct denigration of the plaintiffs' deeply held faith." It also charges that Lexington broke a 1996 Massachusetts law requiring that parents be notified of sex-education lessons. It names Lexington Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash and several other school and town officials. Ash said the school was under no legal obligation to inform parents the book would be read. "This school district is committed to a welcoming environment for all kids. We embrace the diverse nature of the community," he told Reuters. "King & King" tells the story of a crown prince who rejects a bevy of beautiful princesses, rebuffing each suitor until falling in love with a prince. The two marry, sealing the union with a kiss, and live happily ever after. Ash has said reading the book was not intended as sex education but as a way to educate children about the world in which they live, especially in Massachusetts, the only U.S. state where gays and lesbians can legally wed. It was read during a lesson on different types of weddings. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston alleges violations of the federal civil rights of the two sets of parents, David and Tonia Parker, and Rob and Robin Wirthlin. The families are devout Judeo-Christians, it said. "I was concerned that I had not broached this topic with my young child yet and I was concerned that the point of view that was being presented was different from our family's personal moral values," Robin Wirthlin told a news conference. The suit also accuses the town and school officials of violating the Massachusetts civil rights code and the state's parental notification law, according to the parents' attorney, Boston law firm Denner Associates. "This is plainly a civil-rights matter," their lawyer, Jeffrey Denner, told Reuters. The issue erupted when Robin Wirthlin complained to the school's principal after her 7-year-old son told her about the reading last month. She then turned to the conservative Massachusetts-based advocacy group Parents Rights Coalition, which issued a statement on the case to the media last week. David Parker has been entangled with the town's school system since he was arrested a year ago for trespassing when he refused to leave school grounds until authorities promised to excuse his son from classroom discussions on same-sex parents. His son, who at the time was about 5 years old, had brought home a "diversity book bag" that included the book "Who's in a Family?" The book includes pictures of same-sex parents along with other types of families. "King & King" was ranked eighth among the top 10 books people wanted removed from libraries in 2004, according to the American Library Association. Its Berkeley, California publisher, Tricycle Press, said complaints over the 32-page book first surfaced in 2004 in North Carolina. Written by two Dutch women, the book has sold about 15,000 copies in the United States since it was translated and published in 2002.
Posts: 297,703

04-27-2006, 10:12 PM	#2
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $-1541081	That's gay..... __________________
Posts: 48,914

04-27-2006, 10:14 PM	#3
Simplex3 MVP Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $10004900	If I hear the word "diverse" again I may puke. This has got to be one of the most over-used words in America. "Price gouging" and "windfall profits" are coming up strong, however.
Posts: 28,527

04-27-2006, 10:15 PM	#4
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Wow. That's amazing. I'm all for stopping the persecution of gays, but cramming that crap down the throats of our children is just as wrong IMO.
Posts: n/a

04-27-2006, 10:20 PM	#12
KCChiefsMan AIC Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Roxbury, MA Casino cash: $10004900	I'm definately not gay, but I'm not homophobic. I am educated, which I believe most people need to be, to understand homosexuality. Fact, it's a genetic disorder. We don't have hatred towards people with other genetic disorders, why this one? I don't think it's harmful that book was read to the class. Now come on now, everybody is going to throw some gay jokes at me, so bring it on!
Posts: 11,478

04-27-2006, 10:24 PM	#15
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	God forbid you accidentally give these kids the notion that gay people exist. Much better to shield them from reality. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207