Ohio science teacher burned cross on kids' arms.

Ohio science teacher burned cross on kids' arms

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An outside investigation has found that an Ohio public school teacher taught creationism in his science class and used a device to burn the image of a cross on students' arms.

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One family filed a federal lawsuit against Mount Vernon Middle School teacher John Freshwater and the school district last week, saying their child was left with a burn mark for three or four weeks.

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The report also says Freshwater was insubordinate in failing to remove a Bible and other religious materials from his classroom.

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The findings released Thursday by consulting firm H.R. On Call Inc. were to be discussed Friday at a school board meeting.

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"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," Alayna DeMartini reports for The Columbus Dispatch. "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."

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Further excepts from Columbus Dispatch article:

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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.

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The family of one student who was burned filed a federal lawsuit last week against Freshwater and the district, saying the student’s civil rights were violated. Today, the family’s attorney, Jessica Philemond, said it was unfortunate that the school district didn’t do anything sooner to stop Freshwater. “These concerns had been going on for at least 11 years and the school had not done anything,” she said.

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A teacher who worked in Freshwater’s classroom last year also reported to investigators that Freshwater told his class that homosexuality is a sin.

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Well, at least a creationist mole among real people have been found. Here is what I find most interesting about this guy. Science teacher mixed religion, class

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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Freshwater had been told to stop teaching intelligent design and creationism, but he continued, the report found.

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HR on Call Inc., the consultants who investigated allegations against Freshwater, released their findings today. Mount Vernon school board members will meet today to discuss the report and decide what, if any, action they will take.

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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.

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A teacher who worked in Freshwater’s classroom last year also reported to investigators that Freshwater told his class that homosexuality is a sin.

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The school board, after reading the H.R. report, has voted on to vote on his dismisal.I would have to say that they are total and utter wimps. The only reason they did anything after 11 years is the federal law suit,and even that their response is less than stellar.Burning those crosses on the arm is CHILD ABUSE. He used Bibles in his science class, which is unconstitutional.That entire district needs their attitudes adjusted.Although the child abuse just happened in December, the School board had 11 years to respond to this nutcake, and they didn't.

He was brought to the school board some time before about his creationist teachings in the classroom. About 200 parents showed up to support him. I'm just wondering how the hell this guy was able to slip right through the system after all these years. It's baffling that my kids might have to face teachers like this nutcase.

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I'm trying to see things your way, but I can't put my head that far up my ass.