So why isn't he up on assault charges???

[patgund]

This goes beyond religion and straight into "asshat" territory. What nutcase thinks it's okay to burn images of crosses - or anything else for that matter - on their students bodies???

Report: Science teacher mixed religion, class

"A Mount Vernon teacher undermined science instruction in the public school district by discrediting evolution in his classroom and focusing on creationism and intelligent design, a probe 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 had been told to stop teaching intelligent design and creationism, but he continued, the report found."

But wait, there's more (picture at the above link)

"The report confirms that Freshwater burned crosses onto students’ arms, using an electrostatic device, in December. Freshwater told investigators the marks were Xs, 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.."

And just to top off the cake:

"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."

I'd be scared of the whole damn town if their "values" included burning ANYTHING into kids arms.

More info here and here(note, biases). Seems the High School science teachers had to teach a LOT of remedial stuff to students that had come out of Mr. Freshwater's classroom.

Comments

[jeran.livejournal.com]

What bothers me more: with 11 years of complaints against him, why was he still in the classroom at all? After that long it should be obvious that he's not obeying instructions, that ought to be grounds for termination.

[buddykat.livejournal.com]

There's a link from one of the articles to here.

Snippet from article:
Also at FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] meetings, the suit alleges that Freshwater distributed Bibles for the students present to give to other students at the school who were not present, and that an invited speaker told students "they should disobey the law to further their own religion, even if it means going to jail."

Best quote ever:
"they should disobey the law to further their own religion"

For example, by illegally taking control of a passenger jet and crashing it into a building?

Posted by: David L

[jkusters]

Okay, the religion stuff aside, burning *anything* into the arms of children is simply NOT okay. If for no other reason, he should be kicked out for that.

JOhn.

[beki.livejournal.com]

The guy has been doing this for years, why hasn't anyone pressed charges for assault on this bloody fuckwit? Had one of my kids been in that class, you can bet your sweet bippy I'd have had his butt in a sling and his and the district's arses in court.