To All:
Look at this abuse of government power:
VERMONT HOMESCHOOLING MOM JAILED
(From a wide variety of Vermont newspapers and forwarded personal
papers)
The story begins so typically. Seventh-grader Trevor Maple was
bored at school, displayed a short attention span, and read at a second
grade level. Academic problems escalated into social problems. He even
went
to live with his grandparents to give another school system a try, but
to
no avail.
While discussing Trevor's problems with his school's
vice-principal, he advised Trevor's mom that homeschooling could be a
perfect alternative. Considering her options, schedule, and abilities,
just
two and a half months into the school year, Karen Maples decided to
become
a homeschooling mom.
Vermont's homeschooling requirements are neither easy nor
difficult: submit a portfolio to the Board of Education or provide a
Stanford Achievement Test score. Karen submitted a portfolio the first
year, but for efficiency she switched to the standardized test the next
year, and the year after. Trevor's score improved markedly, as did his
self-confidence when he was in a learning environment that didn't call
him
"learning disabled." School officials deemed the test results suspect.
Then one day, eighteen months after homeschooling began, the school
called to ask if Trevor was absent because of illness. Karen thought
this
strange, but was assured it was a clerical mistake. This was before the
school sent a letter to the state's attorney claiming that Trevor was a
child in need of supervision.
Enter several court appearances over two years, always with a
public defender, always denied the ability to submit SAT scores into
evidence. The state, in its all-powerful wisdom, decided Trevor needed
a
tutor.
But the tutor quit after one lesson. Allegedly, the tutor told
Karen she was asked to lie about the condition of Karen's home - and
wouldn't. Because he had been labeled "learning disabled," the school
demanded to evaluate Trevor's education. Karen refused.
A social service employee followed Karen around the grocery store.
Social service employees have been found banging on Karen's front door
as
she arrived home. The children now run upstairs to hide when strangers
approach the house.
To date Karen has had three public defenders, as has Trevor. She
has seen three judges, one of whom, Judge Kupersmith, must hold a
grudge.
When Judge Cashman filled in for Kupersmith once this summer and read
Karen's case, he said the entire matter should have been thrown out.
While Judge Cashman had heard cases all day, Judge Kupersmith
walked in to take care of Karen. Even though she had a "real" lawyer
who
was given 30 hours to prepare, Karen was arrested at this appearance,
found
in contempt of court for failure to bring Trevor to a juvenile court
hearing on August 13. (Karen had informed the judge they wouldn't
appear,
at which time Kupersmith told her Trevor would be placed in permanent
custory of Vermont Social and Rehabilitative Services. With this
threat,
Karen and family went into hiding until she appeared in court on
September
1, 1999 - without Trevor.)
Karen is such a horrid criminal bail is being denied, as is a
breast pump for this nursing mother. Diane Wheeler, Franklin County
deputy
state's attorney acting as prosecutor, states, "Essentially, Ms. Maple
holds the key to the cell door," meaning they don't intend to release
her
until she offers up custody of Trevor as her bail.
A sorely needed defense fund has been established. Donations may be
sent to Karen Maple Defense Fund, c/o Richard Gadbois, Esq., RFD,
Franklin,
VT 05447; 802-933-4514.
Additionally, phone calls are requested to:
Senator James Jeffords (R) 1-800-835-5500 vermont@jeffords.senate.gov
30 Main St. Suite 350 Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 658-6001
58 State St. Montpelier, VT (802) 223-5273
2 South Main St. Rutland, VT 05701 (802) 773-3875
OR
Senator Patrick Leahy (D) 199 Main St. Burlington, VT 05401
1-800-642-3193
433 Russell Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC
20510 (202)
224-4242 senator leahy@leahy.senate.gov
Or Karen's state senators:
Senator George T. Costes (R) (802) 524-4814
All phone calls are welcome,
Freeus |
