The decision of an Ohio middle school to fire a popular, Christian science teacher of over 20 years has generated protest, outcry, and divisions among the residents of Mount Vernon over concerns that the decision may have been motivated out of religious bias against Christians.
At the heart of the debate are concerns about the decision by the Mount Vernon School district to unanimously dismiss instructor John Freshwater because of reports that he had preached his Christian beliefs and had burned the image of a cross on the arms of students.
Freshwater, however, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and asserts that the accusations stem largely from an incident back in April when he clashed with school officials over the right to keep a Bible on display at his desk.
“The removal of [the Bible] will be nothing short of the infringement on my deeply held religious beliefs,” he said in a statement in April.
Freshwater also dismissed accusations of a supposed incident in which he burned the arms of students with “crosses” arguing that it was part of a harmless experiment in which he drew X marks to help demonstrate electrical current.
David Daubenmire, spokesman for Freshwater, said that he believes the charges against Freshwater were all motivated out of bias and prejudice. The electrical current experiment had been a part of Freshwater’s curriculum for over 20 years, he explained.
"They used half-truths,” Freshwater said of the investigative panel that dismissed him, according to The Associated Press.
“They didn't interview people who had been in my classroom. Science teachers at the high school: Why would you interview them?" he asked.
Meanwhile, students at the school and people throughout the community have rallied to Freshwater’s cause, arguing that his case is one of blatant religious discrimination.
Freshwater, who has had a long teaching career spanning over two decades, was described as a popular and favorite teacher by Mount Vernon students who were interviewed, according to The Associated Press.
Students and associates of Freshwater have all claimed that he has never once tried to preach or teach his religious beliefs while in the classroom.
"The Bible, that should be OK to have," James Mills, a former student of Freshwater, told The Associated Press concerning Freshwater’s rights. "Isn't it in the Constitution that we have freedom of religion?"
Critics, however, claim that Freshwater had a history of behavior that drew complaints from both teachers and students.
"I think things were just overlooked and overlooked and overlooked and then it just came to a head," said Kelly Montgomery, who had a son enrolled in Freshwater’s class a few years ago, according to AP.
"It's been terrible for the whole community,” she said.
Freshwater has indicated that he intends to challenge his dismissal from the school in a hearing later this month, according to his attorney.
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WBmoore,
Are you sure you were messing with the same kind of device. The device he was using was a BD-10A High Frequency generator tester for leak detection from Electro-Tecnic Products, Inc.
According to the company this devices generates 10,000 to 50,000 volts at frequency of around .5 megahertz.
While the company does carry devices designed for teaching science this is not one of them it is for detecting leaks in rubber and plastic liners of tanks.
This device is designed to produce arcing. As you may know the effects of such arcing can vary dramatically depending on environmental conditions including temperature, humidity etc. of note in the companies literature they warn against having the arcs come in contact with human flesh. The owner of the company has stated “If this device is directed for seconds (on thee skin) that’s a clear misuse of the productâ€Â
While low power Tesla Coils when used for electrical light show displays usually produce no injuries even then those practiced in providing such demonstrations set up faraday cages or other protective measures to prevent the vary thing that Freshwater was trying to do (inflict sufficient current to mark the flesh of the students).
It is well established that solid state Tesla Coils can deliver RF currents that are capable of causing temporary internal tissue, nerve, or joint damage through Joule Heating. RF arcs can also cook flesh causing painful bone deep RF burns.
If in messing around you only experienced a slight shock I think you were fooling with a different device. Even Freshwater himself admitted that the charges were sufficient to mark the skin his only claim was that he burnt x’s not crosses into the students.
I still can not figure out how the teacher is supposed to have burned the child. I've messed with these things before and they just give a light shock.
This is a reposting of an earlier comment on an earlier story on this in another CP thread.
Mathetes,
You know I respect your comments so I hope you take this response in that light. you are right that one article does not tell the whole story. you present some quotes from Freshwater's pastor. While he may sincerely believe the statements he made they are documented to be wrong in both photographic and written evidence.
You cite the pastor's claim that neither the student nor his parents complained. When in fact the opposite is true as documented in court filings and reported by local newspapers. Below is part of a statement sent to the press by the parents.
We are religious people, but we were offended when Mr. Freshwater burned a cross onto the arm of our child. This was done in science class in December 2007, where an electric shock machine was used to burn our child. The burn was severe enough that our child awoke that night with severe pain, and the cross remained there for several weeks. � We have tried to keep this a private matter and hesitate to tell the whole story to the media for fear that we will be retaliated against.
also court documents show
The boy's parents complained to school administrators, who say they told Freshwater not to do it again. Four months after the family complained and just after they hired an attorney, school officials told Freshwater he had to remove all religious items from his classroom, including a personal Bible he had on his desk. Freshwater has refused to remove his Bible but did take down the other items. http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/18/bible_teacher.html?sid=101
At best Freshwater's pastor was naively trusting in Freshwater and sacrificed his own credibility in consequence. At worst he is complicit in attempting to justify the actions of this person.
In regards the question of abuse I would ask you to view the photograph of the injury to the student's arm at
http://ap.google.com/article/
ALeqM5g1SluWTuZ9ddhhJI06SSqutTwstgD91E6U3O0
Also if you follow up on the device itself you will find that the manufacturer specifically warns against bringing it in contact with flesh. The device is a leak detector which has legitimate use in a science classroom of which branding students is not one. The fact that he got away with it for 20 years does not absolve him of this abuse it only shows that the school was delinquent in their duty. As a High School Principal if I allowed this to have occurred not only should the teacher be fired I should be as well.
Our constitution's first amendment prohibits the establishment of religion. This teacher worked for a government funded school and not a private religious school.
Therefore, the constitutional violation was his, not those who fired him. The "free practice" clause does not permit establishment or coercive proselytizing. I would say that burning crosses on the arms of children would fall under that category.
In addition, teaching creationsim in the form of Intelligent Design or other back door introduction of a particular religion into curriculum is strictly prohibited.
The majority religion may be Chirstianity but it has no more force in power or validity than any other religion or non-belief practiced in America.
America is a secular nation in which all religions may flourish but none dominate.
Christian supremacy is as ugly as any supremacy movement.
CGN,
Respectfully, I think you need to look more closely at the facts of the story. Mr. Freshwater was not barred from being identified as a Christian, nor denied his rights to believe as he chooses. He was under contract with the school district to adhere to the approved curriculum, which he did not do. He taught creationism as an alternative to evolution, which is not approved curriculum.
Whether he agreed with the material or not, it was his job first and foremost to follow the rules. His actions are known as insubordination. What kind of example does it set for the kids when they see a teacher disobey the rules?
The children "taught" by Mr. Freshwater had to be re-taught basic science principles by the next teacher to have them. Creationism has a place, it is called church. Science class is not the appropriate place for it. I haven't seen calls for evolution to be taught at church, so why should creationism get preferential treatment? They each have a time and place, and that's where they're supposed to stay.
Mr. Freshwater should become a full-time youth pastor. It seems to be his calling. If he still insists on being a teacher, then the school district must insist that he follow the rules. Insubordination alone is grounds for suspension or termination.
Then there is the "cross burned on the arms" issue. He misused a piece of the school's equipment by marking a cross on students' arms. Knowingly using a device improperly could also lead to suspension or termination.
Obviously when all is combined, it is clear that action had to be taken. To not take action would show support for insubordination and incompetence. That would be a dangerous precedent to set, and had to be avoided.
Mr. Freshwater should do the right thing and drop any appeals he might be making. It will only further divide the people and make waves where there needn't be any. If he truly had the children's best interest in mind, this is the course he would take.
Let's hope that happens.
Evolved1
Why should Creationism have a special place in the classroom? Why not teach about the other religious Theories: Gravity vs. Intelligent Falling, Astronomy vs. Firmamenty, Physics vs. Miracleism, Meteorology vs. Angelsarecryingism, Organic Chemistry vs. Watertowinery, seismology vs. PillarShakery?
Hey fizz you can run but you can't hide!!!
A link to this article has been posted on the website GoodNewsNow.com
Oh yeah, and one that won't burn the children either... That's important.
Hopefully now they will hire someone that actually teaches the children science, and not hire another youth pastor for the position...
Yes.
what if it had been a copy of the Koran on his desk rather than a Bible? would he still be free to exercise his freedom of religion in the classroom?
separation of church and state, was for freedom to worship Jesus, not to keep us from it! No one wanted to be forced to follow some rulers instructions on how to worship or whom under threat of punishment. That is what it was for, to keep Jesus in Government not out!
We love being maligned for Jesus! Devils make things up only to persuade others to not turn to Jesus.
Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."