HOMOS IN KINDERGARTEN

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 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.

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.

By law, Massachusetts requires schools to notify parents when sexuality is scheduled for discussion. Lexington School Committee chairman Thomas B. Griffiths explained, "We don't view telling a child that there is a family out there with two mommies as teaching about homosexuality." In an e-mail, the Estabrook school principal stated, "I have confirmed … that discussion of differing families, including gay-headed families, is not included in the parental notification policy."

Parker stated, "I'm just trying to be a good dad." During a May 11 appearance on the FOX News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," Parker expanded on this statement, saying that he wanted his son "to play on the swing set and make mud pies. I don't want him thinking about same-sex unions in kindergarten."

THIS IS AN INTERESTING TOPIC FOR ALL US EDUCATORS OUT THERE...IN TEACHING TOLERANCE, HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT TEACHING OR DISCUSSION OR EVEN TO BEGIN TO APPROACH THIS TOPIC? AND HOW DO WE DEAL WITH PARENTS LIKE THIS? I DONT DOUBT THAT HES TRYIN TO BE A GOOD FATHER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MY CONCERNS ARE, IS HE SO HOMOPHOBIC THAT HE IS AFFRAID IF HIS SON WAS TO BE EXPOSED TO THE CONCEPTS OF HOMOSEXUALITY THAT HIS SON WOULD END UP GAY?? I CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, JUST BEING EXPOSED TO CONCEPTS DOESNT MAKE ONE THAT WAY..EITHER YOU ARE OR YOU ARENT...