Ohio SC To Hear Appeal Of Teacher Fired For Teaching Creationism (burned crosses on students arms)

[WillParkinson]

OHIO: Supreme Court To Hear Appeal Of Teacher Fired For Teaching Creationism

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a public school teacher who claims he was wrongly terminated last year for teaching creationism and Christian doctrine.

John Freshwater claims his rights to free speech and academic freedom were violated when he was fired by the Mount Vernon school board in January 2011 following allegations that he failed to remove religious materials from his classroom and burned crosses on students’ arms during science experiments. “This Court must intervene if students and teachers in America's public schools are to remain free to engage in open, respectful dialogue about competing academic theories and their respective merits. Nowhere is such freedom more crucial than in a science classroom, where the asking and answering of questions is the very basis of the universally acknowledged “scientific method,” Freshwater’s attorney, R. Kelly Hamilton argued in his request for the court to hear the case.

The school board says Freshwater ignored their 2003 refusal to allow him to continue teaching "the alleged controversy surrounding evolution." Freshwater has become a folk hero to the far right.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/07/ohio-supreme-court-to-hear-appeal-of.html

[GoneOffShore]

1. Not Freshwater again.

He is such a schmuck and his attorney an opportunist.

[ladjf]

2. The approved curriculum of the school is what is allowed to be taught be it's teachers.

Unless Creationism was included in that curriculum, Freshwater was violating the terms of his contract with the school. They asked him to refrain from his deviations. He refused and was
correctly fired for doing so. The right to "free speech" doesn't include the right to teach unauthorized concepts in a public school classroom.

[4th law of robotics]

7. I'm not sure how it's gotten this far

it seems to obvious and simple.

[ladjf]

17. I can't tell whether you are agreeing or disagreeing with me.

It got this far because the teacher disregarded the school's policies and rules. He was fired.
End of story. He has no case.

[4th law of robotics]

19. Agreeing with you

I'm not sure how he was able to take it to the state supreme court. If that wasn't clear I apologize.

Seems like this should have been tossed out at a much lower level.

[ladjf]

20. The principle might have saved some problems by giving the teacher written notice that he

was breaking school policy by teaching unauthorized material and that if he continued he would be fired according to the school policy. However, he might have had written notice. In that case, he just wanted some more publicity, which he as received.

[Arkana]

3. Jesus Christ, I'd have shitcanned him for the Creationism

but the burning crosses? That's felony assault.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Amen.

I want to know where he's getting the money for his legal fees. This case has gone on forever.

[bongbong]

9. Change

Change from one of the Koch Sucker Brothers' sofas.

They love financing wedge issues like this for distraction so they can continue to vacuum up & steal every penny from America.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

13. 'where's he getting the $ for his legal fees'--Who funds the Rutherford Institute?

That's at least one oufit whose website takes credit for getting the case to state supreme court-- see https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/Press%20Release/rutherford_institute_appeals_to_ohio_supreme_court_on_behalf_of_science_tea/

[Initech]

12. Yeah if I were one of his students I'd press charges and have him arrested.

That is *NOT* OK!!!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

14. And the kids are in middle school, not even high school.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. He was featured at the Terri Schiavo prayer fest

They brought him down there as an example of a good Christian teacher.

[ladjf]

18. He needs to get a job at a church school. And God help the children who will have to suffer his

ignorance.

[4th law of robotics]

6. I don't think burning crosses in to people is a form of protected free speech

also you have your right to believe and say what you want . . . but not on someone else's dime.

And they aren't competing theories.

One is a theory (in the scientific sense) the other is a story made up by bronze age goat herders based on what they were told by stone age goat herders.

[lastlib]

11. It competes in the minor leagues...

...with alchemy, astrology, and flat-earth geography.

[demwing]

8. Since when does the Constitution guarantee "academic freedom?"

Oh yeah, it doesn't.

[yellowcanine]

10. How is burning crosses on student arms protected in any way?

He should have been prosecuted for child endangerment as well as fired. What if one of the children had gotten a MRSA infection at the site of the burns?

[mercuryblues]

15. If it was my middle schooler

who he intentionally burned, he wouldn't have 2 legs to stand on in court. His ass would be in jail for assaulting a minor.

[Bake]

16. If it were MY middle schooler he'd be six feet underground for burning crosses on his arm!

I'm tired of this crap. They need a little "persecution."

Bake

[LynneSin]

21. Wait??!!! The douchebag burned crosses on the students???!!!

Screw the creationism that he was teaching - this is child abuse and this idiot should be locked up.