Tag: science education

October 6, 2014
photo of John Freshwater
John Freshwater

The long drawn out saga of John Freshwater, the Mount Vernon Ohio middle school teacher who was fired for injecting his religious beliefs into his science classes, is officially over after the US Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal from a 2013 Ohio Supreme Court ruling that upheld his termination. Now he can move to the Bible and Chicken Dinner circuit playing the ‘martyr’ he believes he had become.

September 6, 2014
November 19, 2013
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John Freshwater

In probably the last gasp for Mount Vernon, Ohio’s proselytizing teacher, John Freshwater, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 4-3 today that his termination for insubordination was correct. In addition the court ruled that Freshwater had his rights violated when the school district demanded he remove his personal Bible from his classroom desk but that his additional actions in defying that order was enough to justify removing him.

August 10, 2013
drawing showing location of Springboro Ohio

Last we left the Springboro Ohio Community Schools, they were trying to force all kinds of right wing subjects into the school curriculum including creationism and the latest clap trap from Glenn Beck. The ACLU naturally sent a letter threatening a lawsuit. The religious cult on the school board decided to get advice from infamous school teacher John Freshwater and will be bringing in a Christian law firm that is known for supporting 1st amendment religious violations.

May 29, 2013
classroom scene clip art

Some religious zealots are so hell bent to force their religion onto public school students that they will try to camouflage the attempt by trying to create a “controversial issues” policy. They include their religious beliefs with other so-called “controversial issues” like global warming and climate change, UN Agenda 21 and sustainable development. This isn’t the first time that Springboro Ohio Community City School District has tried to give up teaching subjects students need to function in the world today. Luckily there are some concerned parents and community members who won’t let this happen without a fight.

March 4, 2013
screencap of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer during oral arguments

Last Wednesday, John Freshwater, the Mount Vernon middle school teacher fired for proselytizing to his science classes then refusing to stop doing it when he was warned, had his appeal heard before the Ohio Supreme Court. His lawyer attempted to use a routine employment appeal to reopen the debate on teaching creationism in the public schools. Although rulings aren’t signaled based on the questioning during the hearing, it was clear the school attorney, David Smith, got the aggressive part of the questioning.