Action Alert for Bryant Family
Issued - June 18, 2003
I encourage everyone to take time this week to place phone calls, faxes,
and e-mails to the contact people at the links below.
From the sounds of it, we basically kept the school district and the DSS
office hopping today (June 18, 2003), and we need to keep it up.
They need to realize that homeschoolers are not just little families here and there.
If you're not sure what to say, you can always tell them you've heard some incredible
things in the news and want to verify what's going on and let them talk. Chances are
you'll be hung up on, but we can sure let them know that the Bryants are not alone. Or you can be a
little more heated and tell them they need to back off. It's up to you. They
just need to know we are out there and we are mad and aren't going to stand
for this treatment anymore.
In the past there has been confusion with folks (including me) thinking that
the Bryant family was breaking a law, in order to prove some point. This is
not the case. They are not breaking any state laws--it appears that each
district has their own little set of rules.
I spoke with DSS's public relations person today (Denise Montero), and she told me
they knew from the very beginning that the Bryant family is a great family and that
the children are well-loved and well-cared for.
She implied that they were forced to act on this case because the court pushed by
the school district made them. DSS also told me (which amazed me) that the children
have taken two other tests in the past, and that on the last one they scored a little
below average and commented that, considering the stress level, they were surprised
the kids did that well-- and commented that this weren't far off from public school
student scores (my words). Private schools students are not required
to take the tests that they want to force on this family.
Please make this press release from Donna DePaolo go all over the Internet today and in the next few days. We can make a difference together.
Mary Leggewie
HomeschoolChristian.com
 |
For Immediate Release
Contact Information:
Donna M. De Poalo - Publisher
(941) 359-3628
Cathy Henderson - Editor
June 17, 2003 - Since December, 2001, EducationalFreedom.com
has provided information and updates covering the ongoing efforts of Kim Bryant and her family to
resist the efforts of the state to control their home education program.
The Waltham (Massachusetts) School District persists in harrassing this family to
the point where legal custody of the children has been given to DSS -- despite the
fact that no laws have been broken and all the parties involved agree that there
is no abuse of any kind (to the contrary: there is both agreement and evidence
that the children are loved and well cared for). This is simply about the state's
wish to assert its will on the Bryant family.
The most recent efforts involved an attempt to force the children, ages 13 and 15,
to take a standardized test. The children refused, with their parents' support, and
this has led to renewed local, state, and national attention to the case in the media
and on e-mail lists.
Now is the time for action. Now is the time to raise our voices in protest. Now is the time to speak out for educational freedom.
Full details about the case can be found at the EducationalFreedom.com website.
Ways to voice your concerns
(1)
Write a letter to the commissioner at the Massachusetts
Department of Social Services:
Mr. Harry Spence, Commissioner
Massachusetts Department of Social Services
Central Office
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
There is a nice letter posted at the EducationalFreedom.com Forum
(2)
Call or send an email to the superintendent of schools
Dr. Susan Parrella
Superintendent of Schools
Email: parrellas @ k12.waltham.ma.us
Telephone: (781) 314-5400
(3)
Call the social worker at the Department of Social Services (DSS)
Susan Etscovitz
Telephone: (781) 641-8500
(4)
Write a letter to the editor
News Tribune
738 Main St # A,
Waltham, MA 02451
http://www.hiasys.com/contactus/contactus.html
(5)
Send a note of support to the Bryant family
(6)
Join the discussion about the case at the EducationalFreedom.com
Forum: The Bryant Family
(7)
Add a
banner or link to your web site to show a visible sign of support.
NOTE: For more contacts please visit the Contact List page.
#--End Release--#
Permission is granted to forward this release in its entirety with
credit:
©2003 EducationalFreedom.com
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Additional information can be found online at:
6.17.03 - World Net Daily
Homeschoolers' hearing postponed
6.14.03 - World Net Daily
Government agent, cops confront homeschoolers
6.13.03 - The Boston Channel
Students' Refusal To Take Tests Cost Parents Legal Custody (article & video)
6.12.03 - The Daily News Tribune
Homeschooling stand-off in Waltham
6.13.03 - Free Republic
Home-schooling standoff (MA Liberals try to get state custody for 'abused' home-schooled kids)
8.26.02 - Educational Freedom
Bryant Family Appeals
