On Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at 6:24 p.m. David Parker, of 541 Bedford St., Lexington, was arrested and charged with “trespassing” at the Estabrook Elementary School.

This occurred during a meeting scheduled by the Principal of Estabrook, Joni Jay, to discuss the Parkers’ request that the school abide by the Massachusetts Parental Notification Law concerning curriculum involving human sexuality issues.

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.

Statement by David Parker

“I, David Parker, am the father of a kindergarten student at Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts. Since the beginning of this school year, my wife and I have learned that school materials and discussions about gay-headed households/same-sex union issues have been exposed to the children. There are definitive plans to increase the teacher/staff/adult mediated discussions of these subjects.

“We have officially stated on many occasions—to the Lexington school administration—a request that we be notified when these discussions are planned, and want our 6-year-old opted out of such situations when arising “spontaneously”.

“Our parental requests for our own child were flat-out denied with no effort at accommodation. In our meeting on April 27, I, insisted that such accommodation be made and refused to leave the meeting room. I was informed that I would be arrested.”

References

Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit filed against Town by Parkers & Wirthlins
filed by Town of Lexington on 8/15/2006

Lawsuit against School Superintendents, School Committee Members, and specific School Officials
filed by Parkers & Wirthlins on 4/27/2006

Parental Notification Act, General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 71: Section 32A
Every city, town, regional school district or vocational school district implementing or maintaining curriculum which primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues shall adopt a policy ensuring parental/guardian notification ...

Article 8 Alliance - News Events: David Parker Information Page
Lexington, Mass., father of 6-year-old arrested, spends night in jail over objections to homosexual curriculum in son's kindergarten class.  ...

“Arrested Father Had Point To Make”, Boston Globe, April 29, 2005
For David Parker, the first alarm went off in January, when his 5-year-old son came home from his kindergarten class at Lexington's Joseph Estabrook School with a bag of books promoting diversity. Inside were books about foreign cultures and traditions, along with food recipes. There was also a copy of ''Who's In a Family?" by Robert Skutch, which depicts different kinds of families, including same-sex couples raising children ...

“Dispute Over Gay Lessons In School”, Boston CBS Channel 4 TV Report
A Lexington father who wouldn't leave school property after officials refused his demand to remove his 6-year-old son from discussions about homosexuality pleaded innocent to a trespassing charge Thursday ...
Parker first complained to officials at Joseph Estabrook School in January, after his son brought home a book called "Who's in a Family?", which included pictures of same-sex households. He was arrested after a meeting Wednesday in which school officials refused to notify him whenever homosexuality was discussed and remove his son from class.