the rix mix

Ohio teacher burned cross on kids' arms

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - A public school teacher preached his Christian beliefs despite complaints by other teachers and administrators and used a device to burn the image of a cross on students' arms, according to a report by independent investigators.

Mount Vernon Middle School teacher John Freshwater also taught creationism in his science class and was insubordinate in failing to remove a Bible and other religious materials from his classroom, the report said.
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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 told The Columbus Dispatch in a story published Friday.
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Freshwater used a science tool known as a high-frequency generator to burn images of a cross on students' arms in December, the report said. Freshwater told investigators he simply was trying to demonstrate the device on several students and described the images as an "X," not a cross. But pictures show the images depict a cross, the report said.

Other findings show that Freshwater taught that carbon dating was unreliable to argue against evolution.

As Nana used to exclaim, "Jesus, Mary & Joseph, what are you doing?" (expletives omitted)

Much of my education happened in an era when the Christian content of public schools went unchallenged. In grammar school, we recited the Lord's Prayer to start every day. There was no disguising Christmas; we sang "Silent Night." Yet, not once did I encounter a teacher who "preached" to students. I had enlightened history & science teachers in high school. There was no creationism, no religious materials used in any major subject classes. A public school teacher doesn't have a license to turn Biology & Physics classes into Sunday School. "Values" can be inculcated without resorting to nonsense. Fact is, Mr. Freshwater is too damned ignorant to be a teacher. They ought to taser this guy into the street & lock the schoolhouse door behind him. The taxpayers of Mount Vernon can thank him when the lawsuits are settled.

A common thread in these stories are the gullible students who defend idiot teachers on the grounds that they're "nice guys."

Labels: culture, religion