Science Teacher Burns Cross Into Student's Arm

[Da Skinna]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/20/tea...oss/index.html

(CNN) -- School administrators in Ohio voted Friday to begin the process of firing a middle school teacher accused of burning a cross into a student's arm and refusing to keep his religious beliefs out of the classroom.


A middle school student in Ohio says his teacher branded a cross on his arm.

The Mount Vernon School Board passed a resolution to terminate the employment of John Freshwater, an eighth-grade science teacher for the past 21 years.

Freshwater, according to an independent report, used an electrostatic device to mark a cross on the arm of one of his students, causing pain to the student the night of the incident and leaving a mark that lasted for approximately three weeks.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, the student's family has filed a lawsuit.

Freshwater was also reprimanded several times for refusing to move his Bible from his classroom desk and teaching creationism alongside evolution, according to the 15-page independent report. The report also cites evidence that Mr. Freshwater told his students that "science is wrong because the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin and so anyone who is gay chooses to be gay and is therefore a sinner."

The Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District met in special session Friday to address the case.

Freshwater has the option to contest the process by requesting a formal hearing before the Board of Education. Neither Freshwater nor his attorney could be reached by CNN for comment.

Really? What a tit.

[Sher Khan]

eighth-grade science teacher for the past 21 years

Wait, what?

[Pontifex Maximus]

This nutjob should have been fired a long time ago. First of all he teaches creationism...and he is a science teacher. But then he brings his fanatical mumbo jumbo into the classroom and burns a student. He should be in a mental hospital. This goes beyond faithful christian to the mentally disturbed area. He needs help and fast.

[Wautd]

He should be in a mental hospital.

Or jail

[Pontifex Maximus]

Or jail

I was going to say jail, but this guy obviously seems to be disturbed. Maybe a padded prison cell.

[gambit]

How was he a science teacher that taught evolutionism AND creationism...and how did it take them 21 years to notice he was this crazy.

[Trey]

How was he a science teacher that taught evolutionism AND creationism...and how did it take them 21 years to notice he was this crazy.

I was taught both...or at least what creationists believe.

[Theseus1234]

well i guess he managed to keep the other students he branded quiet for 21 years

[Kamos]

well i guess he managed to keep the other students he branded quiet for 21 years

Ah hahaha nooo... they're dead!

[Farnan]

Teacher's Union is to blame for his long stay without being fired...

[Da Skinna]

Teacher's Union is to blame for his long stay without being fired...

Yep. Slippery slope it is.

Too much church mixing with state.

[Desperado †]

Yep. Slippery slope it is.

Too much church mixing with state.

I think the main problem with American schools is it's aboulutely no Religon with schools, or complete Religon. I mean I do agree with the no Religon with Schools thing (I go to a first language Welsh Chrsitian school - when I say christian I mean we say a prayer at morning esembely, but the religon isn't forced upon you), but I've always found it a problem that you don't get Religous Education (or is that in some states?). I mean you can't send soldiers to Iraq without them knowing why the Sunni's hate the Shia'ts, and why the land is so important. I mean I remember going into St Pauls cathedral with my cousine, my breath completely lost in the beauty. My cousin (who come's from America, Washington state, 11 years old) see's a cross of Jesus, and taps his mums shoulder and goes, "Hey mom, it's that guy - you know, who died? What's he called, Mohamed?" Is there any Religous Education, or is it just in some states it's not alowed?

[saglam2000]

I think the main problem with American schools is it's aboulutely no Religon with schools, or complete Religon. I mean I do agree with the no Religon with Schools thing (I go to a first language Welsh Chrsitian school - when I say christian I mean we say a prayer at morning esembely, but the religon isn't forced upon you), but I've always found it a problem that you don't get Religous Education (or is that in some states?). I mean you can't send soldiers to Iraq without them knowing why the Sunni's hate the Shia'ts, and why the land is so important. I mean I remember going into St Pauls cathedral with my cousine, my breath completely lost in the beauty. My cousin (who come's from America, Washington state, 11 years old) see's a cross of Jesus, and taps his mums shoulder and goes, "Hey mom, it's that guy - you know, who died? What's he called, Mohamed?" Is there any Religous Education, or is it just in some states it's not alowed?

Mohamed!!!! Your cousin is an......wait offending him would be a violation of the rules....hmmmmmmmm: THE POST ABOUT YOUR COUSIN IS AN IDIOT!!!!

[imb39]

Teacher's Union is to blame for his long stay without being fired...

Well, actually, the Head Teacher should have intervened to stop rubbish like creationism being taught as a science topic. By all means as a myth within English (as a terribly constructed story) or RE (with other creation stories, of course).

Silly man. Creationism is not and never can be taught within science. It is not verifiable. It has no supporting evidence, save the ramblings of some bloke a few thousand years ago. Indeed, there is plenty of evidence that conflicts with it. For me, this is the real crime. The branding will heal (though, obviously it should never have happened and he should be sacked for that) but to teach creationism...

[Last Roman]

Well, actually, the Head Teacher should have intervened to stop rubbish like creationism being taught as a science topic.

there is no "head teacher" in American schools.

And more likely than not, it was probably the teacher's union that prevented him from being canned.

I'm all for unions, but some have gone way too far.

as Jon Stewart put it, "from keeping the working man from getting screwed to keeping the working man from working"

[nce_wht_guy]

kill'em

[gambit]

kill'em

Short simple and too the point.

I like it.

[Chief Astook]

Oh I better put down that rabid rapist chimp i was planning on using to teach my students about evolution......

[Miraj]

lol What a ing tool. Forget about the hurting your student bit, look at what he was teaching! I'd rather see my child burned with an electrostatic device before tolerating creationist bible thumpery!

[Serious Spamurai]

All he has to do is teach Evolution as a theory (one of our teachers did that, he stated that he didn't believe in it, but he still taught it), kids get the same content (which they need for the exams) and can make up their own minds.