Teacher accused of burning cross on student's arm
(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.
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.
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
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RedGlitter
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Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
That teacher should be sacked immediately. Criminal charges should be brought notwithstanding the fact that "the student's family has filed a lawsuit.". This teacher seems to be guilty of causing actual bodily harm to a student.
Being found guilty of this, in Scotland anyway, tends to land the person who caused the harm with custodial sentence (jail time).
This cretin was teaching SCIENCE? 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."
This would tend to suggest that the Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District are as incompetent as this teacher. If they can't set the curriculum and see it followed something needs to be done.
Being found guilty of this, in Scotland anyway, tends to land the person who caused the harm with custodial sentence (jail time).
This cretin was teaching SCIENCE? 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."
This would tend to suggest that the Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District are as incompetent as this teacher. If they can't set the curriculum and see it followed something needs to be done.
An ye harm none, do what ye will....
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chonsigirl
- Posts: 33633
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Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
Wow, I can't imagine a teacher doing something to harm a student. There should be criminal charges for something like this.
A teacher's personal religious beliefs are their own, but you are not supposed to say things against others beliefs. If a student asks me a religious question, I give a short reply and maybe answer it or not,(you know what is proper to answer or not) and always tell them to discuss any questions they had about that question with an adult at home. It is not my place to tell them. I think they know on their own what I believe, and where I stand.
A teacher's personal religious beliefs are their own, but you are not supposed to say things against others beliefs. If a student asks me a religious question, I give a short reply and maybe answer it or not,(you know what is proper to answer or not) and always tell them to discuss any questions they had about that question with an adult at home. It is not my place to tell them. I think they know on their own what I believe, and where I stand.
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
Chookie;894709 wrote: That teacher should be sacked immediately. Criminal charges should be brought notwithstanding the fact that "the student's family has filed a lawsuit.". This teacher seems to be guilty of causing actual bodily harm to a student.
Being found guilty of this, in Scotland anyway, tends to land the person who caused the harm with custodial sentence (jail time).
This cretin was teaching SCIENCE?
This would tend to suggest that the Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District are as incompetent as this teacher. If they can't set the curriculum and see it followed something needs to be done.
It's a very rural area...I bet half of the teachers there are on the city council let alone the school board...
Being found guilty of this, in Scotland anyway, tends to land the person who caused the harm with custodial sentence (jail time).
This cretin was teaching SCIENCE?
This would tend to suggest that the Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District are as incompetent as this teacher. If they can't set the curriculum and see it followed something needs to be done.
It's a very rural area...I bet half of the teachers there are on the city council let alone the school board...
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
K.Snyder;894786 wrote: It's a very rural area...I bet half of the teachers there are on the city council let alone the school board...
That's no excuse - teachers are supposed to have a modicum of education.
Teachers here are required to be university graduates who have also undertaken a course of postgraduate study in the practice of teaching.
That's no excuse - teachers are supposed to have a modicum of education.
Teachers here are required to be university graduates who have also undertaken a course of postgraduate study in the practice of teaching.
An ye harm none, do what ye will....
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
Assualting a child? The heaviest penalty is in order!! 
:mad:
:mad:Behaviour breeds behaviour - treat people how you would like to be treated yourself
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
Chookie;895355 wrote: That's no excuse - teachers are supposed to have a modicum of education.
Teachers here are required to be university graduates who have also undertaken a course of postgraduate study in the practice of teaching.
Oh I'm against it by every means...
I'm merely making a point suggesting that this "teacher's" motive may have been influenced by this...
Yes, the board should have a series of precursors that prohibit the incorporation of religion but my point is is that because some of these are not in place, mainly as a means of such situations being scarce, doesn't mean that the board isn't mindful of each implantation of forced beliefs...
This person should be band from any societal job let alone the one he currently upholds...
Teachers here are required to be university graduates who have also undertaken a course of postgraduate study in the practice of teaching.
Oh I'm against it by every means...
I'm merely making a point suggesting that this "teacher's" motive may have been influenced by this...
Yes, the board should have a series of precursors that prohibit the incorporation of religion but my point is is that because some of these are not in place, mainly as a means of such situations being scarce, doesn't mean that the board isn't mindful of each implantation of forced beliefs...
This person should be band from any societal job let alone the one he currently upholds...
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
He sounds like the kind of christian who gave the world the Spanish inquisition and other fun pastimes.
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
On the other hand, maybe the teach was right. Maybe we should brand the little heathens for future identification. Right on their narrow, empty little foreheads. Hmmmm.
Teacher Brands Cross in Kid's Arm
hoppy;896433 wrote: On the other hand, maybe the teach was right. Maybe we should brand the little heathens for future identification. Right on their narrow, empty little foreheads. Hmmmm.
Yes but in the form of religion will never render the concept feasible...If such were the case the sheer practice of it all will be negated in that not all will agree on one religion...
Yes but in the form of religion will never render the concept feasible...If such were the case the sheer practice of it all will be negated in that not all will agree on one religion...