Former Students Testify At Freshwater Hearing
NBC 4
The man accused of bringing religion into a local science class faced another hearing Friday.
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—The man accused of bringing religion into a local science class faced another hearing Friday while former students offered support.
NBC 4’s Tanya Hutchins reported with the FAST FACTS.
A termination hearing for Mount Vernon Middle School Teacher John Freshwater was postponed after three hours Friday.
Three students testified about their experiences in Freshwater’s class.
The board of education investigated Freshwater on allegations of professional misconduct last spring, and an independent firm found he allegedly caused physical harm to a student.
Freshwater was suspended without pay.
Freshwater said the board wanted to fire him for keeping a Bible on his desk.
The hearing was scheduled to continue Friday, March 20.
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Reader Reactions
To The Bav-
Did you not see the pictures of the cross that he burned on the student’s arm? It’s all over the internet…
Just because he got away with it for a while before it came to light doesn’t mean that it never happened. I don’t care how many bibles he wants to own. Once he starts burning crosses on kids, he’s done. And I say good riddance!
Blind loyalty to the cause.
Such a wonderful thing.
Independent thought must be against the rules.
I don’t recall my saying that he was a model adult! How did he take advantage of them? “an independent firm found he allegedly caused physical harm to a student” Were there ANY sound basis to this ALLEGED harm, he would have been jailed, and the school would have fired him immediately, as it should! If he did harm those students, then YES, he should rot in jail, period!
What is going on here, is whether he should be fired for bringing his Bible to school! I’m not sorry, but this is stupid! This country has (for the moment) freedom OF religion, NOT FROM religion!
You sound like one of those left wing liberals that says that they can take care of our kids better than we can, that all religion is bad, all religious programs are bad, conservatism is bad, etc. Socialism is good, taking from the hard working and giving it to the lazy is good! I suggest that YOU get the professional help!
So what you are saying is, A model adult can take advantage of juveniles that are NOT model citizens? OMFG! You need to seek professional help immediately.
I still question that as fact! Were it true, he would have been jailed for child abuse. To the best of MY knowledge, he hasn’t been charged with burning the crosses on them, and as I recall those students weren’t what you would call anything close to “model” students!
Yea, but there is still that little problem of burning crosses into students skin.
Freshwater should be re-instated ASAP. to the best of my research, there are NO laws stating that there is a separation of church and state, only court rulings. The closest one only states:
“Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.“
Mr. Freshwater was only exercising his Constitutional right, to keep a Bible on his desk, right where it’s been during his teaching career!
Why is this still going on.
Freshwater should have been fired and
forgotten about months and months ago.
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