Did you notice that Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation contained several references to God? That would mean that it could not be read to students at the Stevens Creek Elementary School in California.

Steven Williams is a fifth grade teacher at Stevens Creek. She has filed a lawsuit against Stevens Creek principal Patricia Vidmar and other school officials claiming discrimination. Williams claims that he has been forbidden to use the Declaration of Independence in his classroom instruction. And why? Because it contains references to God and to Christianity, that's why.

This is enough to actually make a tough bar-fight kind of dude such as myself sit down and just cry. Is this where we've come to in this country? Those men who signed The Declaration of Independence put their lives and their fortunes on the line. Some were killed for their treachery. Others lost their families. Many lost all that they owned. We celebrate the signing of this document every year in one of our nation's most revered holidays, and now we have some school principal out there in Pelosi-land telling a teacher he can't use the Declaration in class because it mentions God?

You can read Steven William's lawsuit right here at the Smoking Gun website. There is also coverage of this story from Reuters, from The San Mateo County Times and from World Net Daily.

Need I say that this is a government school we're dealing with here? Is this story going to be enough to convince some of you out there to at least give some thought to sending your child somewhere other than to the government for an education? You know in your hearts that government doesn't do anything real well, few things well and most things horribly. Why, then, do you continue to entrust the most precious things in your life to government? Maybe I just heard a few heads being pulled out of the sand.

Do you want details about this school? How about the address and some phone numbers? Here you go. Do with them what you will.

Stevens Creek Elementary School
10300 Ainsworth Drive
Cupertino, California 95014
Principal: Patricia Vidmar
(408) 245-3312

-- Dick Tator (inneedofliberty@yahoo.com), November 25, 2004

Answers

Fucking bullshit policy. Your post pissed me off so much I destroyed that school's website:

http://www.cupertino.k12.ca.us/Stcreek.www/

Tomorrow morning, they will find 500 faxes, all 8x11 images of the US Flag. I plan to call the school and contact the principal herself. I live in California, and I still dont understand why the kids dont say the Pledge of Allegiance in class anymore.

-- KOBE SBM (kobesbm@kobehq.com), November 25, 2004.

Thats the kind of thing I like. Civil disobediance at its finest. 500 Faxes? Thats great!

-- Dick Tator (inneedofliberty@yahoo.com), November 25, 2004.

Wow if that was my school I'd be fucking up in arms. I'd be organizing student walkouts, protests, all kinds of shit.

KOBE, you know I'm normaly against what you do, but that was pretty fucking sweet. You finaly used your abilities for good instead of evil. I'll be writing to the school as well.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 25, 2004.

When I was growing up in the liberal state of Massachusetts we had a moment of silence. we could pray or space it out just as long as it was silent. praying was neither encouraged or discouraged. Our school taught us creation vs. evolution with no slant. I was not going to church so of course evolution made all the sense in the world to me but no one ever made a big deal about it. I got my personal relationship with Jesus in my own time it is personal so I am sympathetic to folks who don't want their kid being forced or coerced into group prayer but it is getting too extreme with removing all references to God. Sounds like what the soviets did. We have to stop letting the extreme right and extreme left from influencing what is taught in school. I am just used to saying under God in the pledge. It did not effect me at all when I was a kid and not doing the forced religeon thing. The big thing for us I guess was Huck finn's book with the word nigger in it got all the liberals pissed when I was a kid. These liberals have got to stop trying to control everything just like the moral majority is trying to control everything.

-- Bill Brasky (brasky@stoptheextremeist.org), November 25, 2004.

I've been refusing to stand for the pledge for a few years now. It's got nothing to do with the "under God" part (although that part kind of sucks too), I just refuse to declare my alleigance to a government as evil and as corrupt as ours.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 25, 2004.

Hey Anti, have you ever travelled to another country? Yes, Mexico and Canada count as travel in this case. The United States is the greatest most wonderful country to live in right now, EVEN with Bush and the "evil government" you say we have.

YOU SAID:

"I've been refusing to stand for the pledge for a few years now. It's got nothing to do with the "under God" part (although that part kind of sucks too), I just refuse to declare my alleigance to a government as evil and as corrupt as ours."

Okay, I can accept that, but can you think of another country which is doing a better job? Can you think of a place where you have greater freedom? The great thing abou America is the fact that its Constitution and its leadership is dynamic. That it, the people in power now will pass into their senior years and then YOUR generation will eventually get its chance to make the America it wants. Give it a chance. The Pledge is a flag pledge, and for the "Republic for Which it Stands". Not the "government". Saying the Pledge isnt a betrayal of your beliefs, it is a show of loyalty for your country. Is there another country you would rather be in?

-- KOBE SBM (kobesbm@kobehq.com), November 26, 2004.

you people are always talking about howmuch freedom you have and yet you cannot seem to ever give proof of these freedoms. Sure you might have freedom to do whatever petty things you want. You can wander naked around your house or dress in a gimp suit and wander round town but you have no freedom where it counts. If organise a group and march to the white house or whatever you will be met by riot police and tear gas etc how is this freedom? How is this democracy? You all know that your government is controlled by big business and yet you somehow cling to the belief that you have some sort of democracy? Such a thing as democracy cannot possibly exist and never will exist in this world. And by the way I have been around the world and America is definately not the greatest nation in the world. Neither do any of you seem to give a reason why you think this. Patriotism is fine to extent but brainwashing into beieving in the fatherland in plain idiotic.

-- ho hum (monkeysee@monkeydo.com), November 26, 2004.

"And by the way I have been around the world and America is definately not the greatest nation in the world"

REALLY? Then why dont you tell us which country IS the greatest nation in the world? What's worse than whining about the alleged lack of Freedom? Whining about the alleged lack of Freedom with no proof to back up your allegations. Things are not perfect in America. Things are not perfect ANYWHERE, but we are definitely closer to it than many other nations.

Marchers targeting the White House (or any other security area) are going to be met with police, just as it should be. Protesting accomplishes NOTHING, and I dont understand why people waste their time doing it. The media no longer covers such activities (for the most part), and the protests dont change anything at all. Do you really believe that if a bunch of people with signs and some lame chant shout loud enough, that the President is going to stop government and run to his desk to change something for you? You are living in the problem and doing nothing to come up with a solution. Another non-voting minor?

-- KOBE SBM (kobesbm@kobehq.com), November 26, 2004.

KOBE,

Yes, I have been out of the country. I've been to Europe a couple of times. I never said America was not the greatest country in the. I think it is. But does that mean we can't improve? Does that mean we should put up with all the the bullshit simply because we don't experience bullshit in the magnitude that other countries do? The idea that we should just be content to be the lesser of many evils is just wrong.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 26, 2004.

That other post was from you Anti? Im sorry about the "non-voting minor" comment. You are absolutely right about what you said here:

"I think it is. But does that mean we can't improve?"

Sure we can improve. We MUST improve if we want to continue to have allies in this world. We must improve if we expect the citizens of the United States to adhere to our governmental laws. There is nothing to REALLY prevent a revolution here if things got really bad. The Government IS the people (believe it or not!). If you can get people to see things a different way, then you can vote your America into reality by voting the people you support into office. Its a somewhat slow process, but it does work.

Even France (and the rest of Europe) are considering banning Islam. I doubt that will happen here in the US.

-- KOBE SBM (kobesbm@kobehq.com), November 27, 2004.

Like Dennis Miller said "The UCLU will fight againt someone's right to put up a notivity scence. But defend some stoned asshole's right to stumble in and fuck one of the sheep"...and have a picture taken of it.

Geeze I wonder why less and less people are fiding a use for the Democrat party and an assurance that they are looking after their interests.

-- W (wwils12@netzero.com), November 27, 2004.

I've lost all respect for Dennis Miller. Talk about selling out. Hey, why don't I kiss Bush's ass so the networks will like me and I'll get my own show! I used to love his old show on HBO. His old material was origional and he wasn't afraid to say what he thought. Now he just repeats whatever Rush Limbaugh says that day and pretends it's comedy. The ACLU is probably one of the most useful organizations in America. You ever get your first ammendment rights fucked with by "the Man", they're the people to call. I don't see the Christian Coalition coming out against the BLATANTLY unconstitutional PATRIOT Act.

KOBE,

The beautiful thing about democracy is that we can have a revolution simply by working within the system. Democracy itself is a revolution. That's why we've lasted so long, because people don't need to grab a kalishnakov and throw on a red beret is they are pissed off at the government. All they have to do is protest and vote their asses out every november. A huge, fundamental change in our government is possible simply by participating in our government. The founding fathers knew that. Jefferson believed that the people ought to shake things up every few years. He once wrote that he would be appalled if this country ever went twenty years without a revolution.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 28, 2004.

Now, YOU blew me away!

"A huge, fundamental change in our government is possible simply by participating in our government. The founding fathers knew that. Jefferson believed that the people ought to shake things up every few years. He once wrote that he would be appalled if this country ever went twenty years without a revolution."

EXACTLY ON THE MARK!

It is possible to change the government in a HUGE way by working within the system. It DOES work, even though right now it seems out of control. Each generation WILL control the government, and things WILL change. If you start now, you can see a fundamental change in your lifetimes, and set the stage for the future of your children. That's all Im trying to do as a KOBE. I dont want to support communism, socialism, anarchism, or anything which has failed in the past. If they have been planning as long as my generation did to build today's America, then those groups are a real threat to my America. Can you understand that?

-- KOBE SBM (kobesbm@kobehq.com), November 28, 2004.

Someone wrote: "Wow if that was my school I'd be fucking up in arms."

Well, it IS my school, and I WAS up in arms - They I realized that my kid had gone to fifth grade there last year, and studied the Declaration in it's entirety. Not one word had been banned or censored. SO I think: "Huh? What happened?"

It turns out Fox News ran the story, day after day, slandering my community, based on a single bogus press release. Want to know what us Patriotic American parents think? try this: http://www.stevenscreekparents.org/

Now I'm still up in arms, but not against the school. The suit was brought by a group of lawyers called the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). They do this sort of thing (sue schools & endanger children) to generate publicity, collect $16M a year in donations - and apparently just line their pockets with it. Now THATS an outrage!!!

-- John Alexander (webmaster@stevenscreekparents.org), January 03, 2005.

I dont think sueing schools is a good idea. It simple takes money away from the children, anyway you look at it. Why not sue the States that run the schools? Makes more since to me since it is their laws that say that our kids must go.

-- Dick Tator (inneedofliberty@yahoo.com), January 04, 2005.

PRESS RELEASE ***

For immediate release

Contact: Nathalie Schuler Ferro

chiefexecutivedreamer@yahoo.com

California parents request retraction and apology from Alliance Defense Fund

Cupertino, California. 1-24-2005. A group of parents from Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California, has sent a letter to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) requesting the retraction of a misleading press release, and an apology for the damages caused.

On November 22, 2004, the ADF issued a press release with the headline, “Declaration of Independence banned from classroom,” to publicize a lawsuit filed in Federal Court against Stevens Creek Elementary School principal Patricia Vidmar, the school district and school board members. Due to its inflammatory nature, the press release was widely covered in the media and resulted in thousands of obscene and hostile calls, faxes and emails directed at Vidmar and the school To ensure the safety of students and staff, the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department posted two Sheriff Officers on school grounds to protect the children and staff for the weeks following their return to class from the Thanksgiving holiday.

"For the ADF to target Stevens Creek Elementary in this way is, to be charitable, silly. If anything, our school should be hailed by this group I once supported,” said Larry Woodard. "The founding documents are taught in the correct historic and religious context. Our children sing patriotic songs such as ‘God Bless America’ in class and school assemblies; recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the version that includes ‘under God,’ every day; and holds an annual Holiday sing-along. The “Good News Club”, an after school Christian club meets regularly on campus, along with other after school organizations."

The lawsuit concerned the way in which the principal reviewed lesson plans and supplemental handouts of fifth grade teacher Stephen Williams, following a number of complaints from parents over an extended period of time. According to the open letter, the press release, which is still posted on the ADF web site, contains a number of glaring inaccuracies:

The Declaration of Independence was not banned. It is printed in full in the textbook that all fifth grade teachers, including the claimant, Mr. Stephen Williams use. It is also posted in locations throughout the school. During the Hannity and Colmes program, Williams denied the claim that the Declaration of Independence was banned. The children at Stevens Creek Elementary are taught history with the correct religious background in an exemplary program within the district. The school has been widely recognized for the Living History Program implemented at the fifth grade level every year. According to Mike Johnson of the ADF (Baptist Press News, December 20, 2004), “The school ground is the battleground now in the culture war when it comes to religious expression. Teachers are in the crosshairs.” The letter urges ADF to remember that, in schools, children are most affected by that hostile environment.

“What right do they have to disrupt our community and make a police presence necessary at our school?” Richard Crouch said, “It is sad that a group that claims to protect the 'right to speak and hear the Truth' should show such contempt for the facts while pursuing what we believe is a political agenda.”

Nathalie Schuler noted, “I know parents in the school who used to donate to the ADF, but are now absolutely disgusted by their assertions and what they see as un-Christian behavior. I hope that anyone who cares about the well-being of this nation's children will think twice before supporting this group when there are so many other honorable Christian organizations in need of support.”

The letter to the ADF is posted on www.stevenscreekparents.org

**********************************

Open letter to Alliance Defense Fund

We, The Parents, an organization of parents of students at Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California, request that you retract the misstatements about our school contained in your press release dated 11/23/04, still present on your website. Further, we feel that a public apology from your organization for the disruption it has caused our community would be appropriate.

Your press release, which falsely asserts that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom, was picked up by Reuters, and quickly spread via internet blogs, talk show radio, and, of course, Fox News. The school’s mailboxes, answering machines and emails were thereafter flooded with well over 3000 hate-filled messages from all over the country and abroad. Security, including sheriff's patrols, was immediately heightened at the school much to the concern and distress of both parents and children.

While you may not have directly contacted the many people who felt compelled to vent their hostility toward our principal and school, we believe your organization is nonetheless responsible. This reaction was the direct consequence of the incendiary headline that can still be found on your webpage, “Declaration of Independence Banned from Classroom.” We therefore ask that you stop exposing our school and our children to more harm by continuing to state what is clearly false on your website. We request a withdrawal of your headline and a public retraction. Surely, in all good conscience, you cannot continue to falsely represent that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom.

Your group states on its website that it supports and defends families and family values. Yet, it appears that since 2001 you have targeted schools and therefore the families that make up those schools in order to achieve what we believe is your political agenda. In a recent interview, one of your spokespersons said that you view schools as the “new battleground.” Do you realize that your battleground is where we send our children? Is that the environment in which you want to fight a battle? How does learning take place in a school besieged by hate mail triggered by an incendiary and erroneous headline on your website? We wonder if your supporters realize that your actions may be tearing the very fabric you purport to weave.

We have seen firsthand that truth has been a casualty in this case. But most of all it is disturbing to see how an organization that claims to defend the truth and Christian values spreads false information about our school, its principal and our local school board. These actions can only undermine the public’s trust in your organization, and may cause even some of your supporters to question your actions and your judgment.

It is not our objective to address whether your lawsuit has any merit; that will ultimately be decided by the courts. We would, however, like to point out a few discrepancies between what you have stated on your website and the truth:

1- Our Principal, Patricia Vidmar, and our School District have never banned the Declaration of Independence. It is fully reproduced in the fifth grade history text book that Stephen Williams and all other Stevens Creek fifth grade teachers are obliged to use in their classrooms and is proudly displayed at the library of the school, where it always has been.

2- In the Hannity and Colmes program (12/8/04), you attended with your client, Mr. Williams himself denied your false claim that the Declaration of Independence was banned by our Principal! He called it a “bit of a stretch” and even stated “my kids have read the Declaration.”

3- Our children, contrary to what you have led many to believe, are properly taught not only the Declaration of Independence, but all the other founding documents included in the fifth grade history curriculum. In fact, our Living History program is highly touted as an example to follow for other schools. Through this program, our children re-live the days of the explorers and the Colonial Days. And the highlight of the program is the overnight Revolutionary War Encampment that allows them to learn about the war, medical practices of the day, social customs and food of the period and experience firsthand some of the hardships our patriots experienced.

According to your website, the purpose of your organization is “defending the right to hear and speak the Truth . . . .” Why do you stray from the truth in this case? We urge you now to set the record straight, retract your false assertion regarding the Declaration of Independence and apologize for the harm done to our fine school and its reputation.

Sincerely,

We the parents and over 55 signatures on file.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- ----

Open letter to Alliance Defense Fund

We, The Parents, an organization of parents of students at Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California, request that you retract the misstatements about our school contained in your press release dated 11/23/04, still present on your website. Further, we feel that a public apology from your organization for the disruption it has caused our community would be appropriate.

Your press release, which falsely asserts that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom, was picked up by Reuters, and quickly spread via internet blogs, talk show radio, and, of course, Fox News. The school’s mailboxes, answering machines and emails were thereafter flooded with well over 3000 hate-filled messages from all over the country and abroad. Security, including sheriff's patrols, was immediately heightened at the school much to the concern and distress of both parents and children.

While you may not have directly contacted the many people who felt compelled to vent their hostility toward our principal and school, we believe your organization is nonetheless responsible. This reaction was the direct consequence of the incendiary headline that can still be found on your webpage, “Declaration of Independence Banned from Classroom.” We therefore ask that you stop exposing our school and our children to more harm by continuing to state what is clearly false on your website. We request a withdrawal of your headline and a public retraction. Surely, in all good conscience, you cannot continue to falsely represent that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom.

Your group states on its website that it supports and defends families and family values. Yet, it appears that since 2001 you have targeted schools and therefore the families that make up those schools in order to achieve what we believe is your political agenda. In a recent interview, one of your spokespersons said that you view schools as the “new battleground.” Do you realize that your battleground is where we send our children? Is that the environment in which you want to fight a battle? How does learning take place in a school besieged by hate mail triggered by an incendiary and erroneous headline on your website? We wonder if your supporters realize that your actions may be tearing the very fabric you purport to weave.

We have seen firsthand that truth has been a casualty in this case. But most of all it is disturbing to see how an organization that claims to defend the truth and Christian values spreads false information about our school, its principal and our local school board. These actions can only undermine the public’s trust in your organization, and may cause even some of your supporters to question your actions and your judgment.

It is not our objective to address whether your lawsuit has any merit; that will ultimately be decided by the courts. We would, however, like to point out a few discrepancies between what you have stated on your website and the truth:

1- Our Principal, Patricia Vidmar, and our School District have never banned the Declaration of Independence. It is fully reproduced in the fifth grade history text book that Stephen Williams and all other Stevens Creek fifth grade teachers are obliged to use in their classrooms and is proudly displayed at the library of the school, where it always has been.

2- In the Hannity and Colmes program (12/8/04), you attended with your client, Mr. Williams himself denied your false claim that the Declaration of Independence was banned by our Principal! He called it a “bit of a stretch” and even stated “my kids have read the Declaration.”

3- Our children, contrary to what you have led many to believe, are properly taught not only the Declaration of Independence, but all the other founding documents included in the fifth grade history curriculum. In fact, our Living History program is highly touted as an example to follow for other schools. Through this program, our children re-live the days of the explorers and the Colonial Days. And the highlight of the program is the overnight Revolutionary War Encampment that allows them to learn about the war, medical practices of the day, social customs and food of the period and experience firsthand some of the hardships our patriots experienced.

According to your website, the purpose of your organization is “defending the right to hear and speak the Truth . . . .” Why do you stray from the truth in this case? We urge you now to set the record straight, retract your false assertion regarding the Declaration of Independence and apologize for the harm done to our fine school and its reputation.

Sincerely,

We the Parents and over 60 signatures on file.

-- Cupertino Mom (JMMERK@COMCAST.NET), February 01, 2005.

PRESS RELEASE *** For immediate release Contact: Nathalie Schuler Ferro chiefexecutivedreamer@yahoo.com

California parents request retraction and apology from Alliance Defense Fund

Cupertino, California. 1-24-2005. A group of parents from Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California, has sent a letter to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) requesting the retraction of a misleading press release, and an apology for the damages caused.

On November 22, 2004, the ADF issued a press release with the headline, “Declaration of Independence banned from classroom,” to publicize a lawsuit filed in Federal Court against Stevens Creek Elementary School principal Patricia Vidmar, the school district and school board members. Due to its inflammatory nature, the press release was widely covered in the media and resulted in thousands of obscene and hostile calls, faxes and emails directed at Vidmar and the school To ensure the safety of students and staff, the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department posted two Sheriff Officers on school grounds to protect the children and staff for the weeks following their return to class from the Thanksgiving holiday.

"For the ADF to target Stevens Creek Elementary in this way is, to be charitable, silly. If anything, our school should be hailed by this group I once supported,” said Larry Woodard. "The founding documents are taught in the correct historic and religious context. Our children sing patriotic songs such as ‘God Bless America’ in class and school assemblies; recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the version that includes ‘under God,’ every day; and holds an annual Holiday sing-along. The “Good News Club”, an after school Christian club meets regularly on campus, along with other after school organizations."

The lawsuit concerned the way in which the principal reviewed lesson plans and supplemental handouts of fifth grade teacher Stephen Williams, following a number of complaints from parents over an extended period of time. According to the open letter, the press release, which is still posted on the ADF web site, contains a number of glaring inaccuracies:

The Declaration of Independence was not banned. It is printed in full in the textbook that all fifth grade teachers, including the claimant, Mr. Stephen Williams use. It is also posted in locations throughout the school. During the Hannity and Colmes program, Williams denied the claim that the Declaration of Independence was banned. The children at Stevens Creek Elementary are taught history with the correct religious background in an exemplary program within the district. The school has been widely recognized for the Living History Program implemented at the fifth grade level every year. According to Mike Johnson of the ADF (Baptist Press News, December 20, 2004), “The school ground is the battleground now in the culture war when it comes to religious expression. Teachers are in the crosshairs.” The letter urges ADF to remember that, in schools, children are most affected by that hostile environment.

“What right do they have to disrupt our community and make a police presence necessary at our school?” Richard Crouch said, “It is sad that a group that claims to protect the 'right to speak and hear the Truth' should show such contempt for the facts while pursuing what we believe is a political agenda.”

Nathalie Schuler noted, “I know parents in the school who used to donate to the ADF, but are now absolutely disgusted by their assertions and what they see as un-Christian behavior. I hope that anyone who cares about the well-being of this nation's children will think twice before supporting this group when there are so many other honorable Christian organizations in need of support.”

The letter to the ADF is posted on www.stevenscreekparents.org

**********************************

Open letter to Alliance Defense Fund

We, The Parents, an organization of parents of students at Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California, request that you retract the misstatements about our school contained in your press release dated 11/23/04, still present on your website. Further, we feel that a public apology from your organization for the disruption it has caused our community would be appropriate.

Your press release, which falsely asserts that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom, was picked up by Reuters, and quickly spread via internet blogs, talk show radio, and, of course, Fox News. The school’s mailboxes, answering machines and emails were thereafter flooded with well over 3000 hate-filled messages from all over the country and abroad. Security, including sheriff's patrols, was immediately heightened at the school much to the concern and distress of both parents and children.

While you may not have directly contacted the many people who felt compelled to vent their hostility toward our principal and school, we believe your organization is nonetheless responsible. This reaction was the direct consequence of the incendiary headline that can still be found on your webpage, “Declaration of Independence Banned from Classroom.” We therefore ask that you stop exposing our school and our children to more harm by continuing to state what is clearly false on your website. We request a withdrawal of your headline and a public retraction. Surely, in all good conscience, you cannot continue to falsely represent that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom.

Your group states on its website that it supports and defends families and family values. Yet, it appears that since 2001 you have targeted schools and therefore the families that make up those schools in order to achieve what we believe is your political agenda. In a recent interview, one of your spokespersons said that you view schools as the “new battleground.” Do you realize that your battleground is where we send our children? Is that the environment in which you want to fight a battle? How does learning take place in a school besieged by hate mail triggered by an incendiary and erroneous headline on your website? We wonder if your supporters realize that your actions may be tearing the very fabric you purport to weave.

We have seen firsthand that truth has been a casualty in this case. But most of all it is disturbing to see how an organization that claims to defend the truth and Christian values spreads false information about our school, its principal and our local school board. These actions can only undermine the public’s trust in your organization, and may cause even some of your supporters to question your actions and your judgment.

It is not our objective to address whether your lawsuit has any merit; that will ultimately be decided by the courts. We would, however, like to point out a few discrepancies between what you have stated on your website and the truth:

1- Our Principal, Patricia Vidmar, and our School District have never banned the Declaration of Independence. It is fully reproduced in the fifth grade history text book that Stephen Williams and all other Stevens Creek fifth grade teachers are obliged to use in their classrooms and is proudly displayed at the library of the school, where it always has been.

2- In the Hannity and Colmes program (12/8/04), you attended with your client, Mr. Williams himself denied your false claim that the Declaration of Independence was banned by our Principal! He called it a “bit of a stretch” and even stated “my kids have read the Declaration.”

3- Our children, contrary to what you have led many to believe, are properly taught not only the Declaration of Independence, but all the other founding documents included in the fifth grade history curriculum. In fact, our Living History program is highly touted as an example to follow for other schools. Through this program, our children re-live the days of the explorers and the Colonial Days. And the highlight of the program is the overnight Revolutionary War Encampment that allows them to learn about the war, medical practices of the day, social customs and food of the period and experience firsthand some of the hardships our patriots experienced.

According to your website, the purpose of your organization is “defending the right to hear and speak the Truth . . . .” Why do you stray from the truth in this case? We urge you now to set the record straight, retract your false assertion regarding the Declaration of Independence and apologize for the harm done to our fine school and its reputation.

Sincerely,

We the parents and over 55 signatures on file.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Open letter to Alliance Defense Fund

We, The Parents, an organization of parents of students at Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California, request that you retract the misstatements about our school contained in your press release dated 11/23/04, still present on your website. Further, we feel that a public apology from your organization for the disruption it has caused our community would be appropriate.

Your press release, which falsely asserts that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom, was picked up by Reuters, and quickly spread via internet blogs, talk show radio, and, of course, Fox News. The school’s mailboxes, answering machines and emails were thereafter flooded with well over 3000 hate-filled messages from all over the country and abroad. Security, including sheriff's patrols, was immediately heightened at the school much to the concern and distress of both parents and children.

While you may not have directly contacted the many people who felt compelled to vent their hostility toward our principal and school, we believe your organization is nonetheless responsible. This reaction was the direct consequence of the incendiary headline that can still be found on your webpage, “Declaration of Independence Banned from Classroom.” We therefore ask that you stop exposing our school and our children to more harm by continuing to state what is clearly false on your website. We request a withdrawal of your headline and a public retraction. Surely, in all good conscience, you cannot continue to falsely represent that our school has banned the Declaration of Independence from the classroom.

Your group states on its website that it supports and defends families and family values. Yet, it appears that since 2001 you have targeted schools and therefore the families that make up those schools in order to achieve what we believe is your political agenda. In a recent interview, one of your spokespersons said that you view schools as the “new battleground.” Do you realize that your battleground is where we send our children? Is that the environment in which you want to fight a battle? How does learning take place in a school besieged by hate mail triggered by an incendiary and erroneous headline on your website? We wonder if your supporters realize that your actions may be tearing the very fabric you purport to weave.

We have seen firsthand that truth has been a casualty in this case. But most of all it is disturbing to see how an organization that claims to defend the truth and Christian values spreads false information about our school, its principal and our local school board. These actions can only undermine the public’s trust in your organization, and may cause even some of your supporters to question your actions and your judgment.

It is not our objective to address whether your lawsuit has any merit; that will ultimately be decided by the courts. We would, however, like to point out a few discrepancies between what you have stated on your website and the truth:

1- Our Principal, Patricia Vidmar, and our School District have never banned the Declaration of Independence. It is fully reproduced in the fifth grade history text book that Stephen Williams and all other Stevens Creek fifth grade teachers are obliged to use in their classrooms and is proudly displayed at the library of the school, where it always has been.

2- In the Hannity and Colmes program (12/8/04), you attended with your client, Mr. Williams himself denied your false claim that the Declaration of Independence was banned by our Principal! He called it a “bit of a stretch” and even stated “my kids have read the Declaration.”

3- Our children, contrary to what you have led many to believe, are properly taught not only the Declaration of Independence, but all the other founding documents included in the fifth grade history curriculum. In fact, our Living History program is highly touted as an example to follow for other schools. Through this program, our children re-live the days of the explorers and the Colonial Days. And the highlight of the program is the overnight Revolutionary War Encampment that allows them to learn about the war, medical practices of the day, social customs and food of the period and experience firsthand some of the hardships our patriots experienced.

According to your website, the purpose of your organization is “defending the right to hear and speak the Truth . . . .” Why do you stray from the truth in this case? We urge you now to set the record straight, retract your false assertion regarding the Declaration of Independence and apologize for the harm done to our fine school and its reputation.

Sincerely,

We the Parents and over 60 signatures on file.

-- Cupertino Mom (JMMERK@COMCAST.NET), February 01, 2005.

Gotta love that FOX News...somehow the "liberal" media jumps all over Dan Rather but leaves FOX's scandal completely alone...

-- Anti-Bush (comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), February 02, 2005.

Just to keep you up to date, the district filed a motion on Jan. 31 to dismiss the lawsuit. The district said in the motion that there's no factual evidence to back Williams' claim that his constitutional rights were violated. The motion also countered Williams' argument that he and his lesson plans were singled out for review by Principal Patricia Vidmar because of his religion. The motion stated that parental complaints prompted the actions. This motion can be viewed at http://www.stevenscreekparents.org.

The ADF has also back-peddled in a recent press release, which can be viewed at http://www.eriposte.com. According to the ADF, the Declaration of Independence was not banned, and inacuracies in reporting this as fact were the fault of the media. Right.

-- Cupertino Mom (MileyMcB@hotmail.com), February 06, 2005.

Amazing how our "liberal" media totaly passes this one up...

-- Anti-Bush (comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), February 06, 2005.