He taught creationism and burned crosses into students' arms A
Mount Vernon, Ohio, teacher undermined science instruction in the public school district by discrediting evolution in his classroom and focusing on creationism and intelligent design,
an investigation has found.
Eighth-graders who were taught by John Freshwater frequently had to be re-taught in high school what they were supposed to have learned in Freshwater's class, according to outside investigators hired by the district.
For 11 years, other teachers in the school district and people in the community complained about Freshwater preaching his Christian beliefs in class and slamming scientific theories, a school administrator told investigators.
"There is a significant amount of evidence that Mr. Freshwater's teachings regarding subjects related to evolution were not consistent with the curriculum of the Mount Vernon City Schools and state standards," the
consultants reported.
Freshwater was told to stop teaching intelligent design and creationism, but he continued, the report found.
HR on Call Inc., the consultants who investigated allegations against Freshwater, released
their findings yesterday. Mount Vernon school board members will meet today to discuss
the report and decide what, if any, action they will take.
The report confirmed that Freshwater burned crosses onto students' arms, using an electrostatic device, in December.
Freshwater told investigators the marks were X's, not crosses. But all of the students interviewed in the investigation reported being branded with crosses. The investigation report includes a photo of one student's arm with a long vertical line and a short horizontal line running through it.
The family of one student who was burned filed a federal lawsuit last week against Freshwater and the district, saying the student's civil rights were violated.
Yesterday, the family's attorney, Jessica Philemond, said it was "unfortunate" that the school district didn't do anything sooner to stop Freshwater.
"These concerns had been going on for at least 11 years, and the school had not done anything," she said.
A teacher who worked in Freshwater's classroom last year also reported to investigators that Freshwater told his class that homosexuality is a sin.
Neither Freshwater nor his attorney, Roger Weaver, could be reached for comment last night. Freshwater's friend Dave Daubenmire defended him.
"With the exception of the cross-burning episode, I believe John Freshwater is teaching the values of the parents in the Mount Vernon school district," he said.
Daubenmire is a former London High School football coach whose district was sued in 1999 by the American Civil Liberties Union because he led his players in prayer at games, practices and meetings.
"Do you think there are other teachers in the public classroom that are trying to drive their opinions in the classroom?" Daubenmire asked. "I don't care who you are. You cannot separate your value system from your teaching."
The debate about Freshwater's actions became public in April after he refused to remove a Bible from his desk, as the district had ordered.
The report says he was insubordinate for failing to remove the Bible and other religious materials from his classroom but also found other issues about his teaching and behavior.
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Link to the ReportClick here to play a text to speech mp3 version of this story
In fact, why didn't any parent take this to the ACLU or FFRF, as well as the Dept of Ed and anyone who protects children?
--S.
click here for details
And I wish the same fate for all of his supporters, too. They should be deeply ashamed of themselves for even thinking of supporting that madman.
WWJB?
Who would JEEEEEESUS Burn??????
Gawd!
If that were my kid I would have raised so much hell at the prosecutors office they would have no choice but to arrest him! Nothing like some good ole fashioned Christian persecution to let those sick, power hungry, child-abusing pricks know whose boss!
However, I am afraid I live in a town where the parents would support that sick bastard! Their brainwashing and lunacy prevents them from from seeing this as a crime. I am not surprised by this kind of crap anymore, just utterly disgusted.
Hello!? He burns his students! It doesn't matter what he burns into their forearms...let it be a cross or swastika. Its just wrong! An atheist can tell you that. These people aren't real Christians (what is a real Christian anyways)...they're just freaks.