Report: Ohio teacher burned cross on kids' arms

Report: Ohio teacher burned cross on kids' arms

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) - 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.

School board members were scheduled to meet Friday afternoon to discuss the findings by consulting firm H.R. On Call Inc., hired by the district to investigate. The report was released Thursday.

School Superintendent Stephen Short wouldn't comment on the report before Friday's meeting, his office said. A message seeking comment was left for Freshwater's attorney, Roger Weaver.

The report comes one week after a family filed a federal lawsuit in Columbus against Freshwater and the school district, saying Freshwater burned a cross on their child's arm that remained for three or four weeks.

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.

Several students interviewed by investigators described Freshwater, who has been employed by the school district for 21 years, as a great guy.

But Lynda Weston, the district's director of teaching and learning, told investigators that she has dealt with complaints about Freshwater for much of her 11-year term at the district, the report said.

A former superintendent, Jeff Maley, said he tried to find another position for Freshwater but couldn't because Freshwater was certified only in science, the report said.

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.

So is this permanent?

I would have shoved the high-frequency generator up his ass.

He's an imbecile.

There's a place for preaching Christ. A classroom isn't it.

And the cross thing was just stupid. Although apparently not as bad as I first imagined. I'm guessing "burned" is a figure of speech in the case of this device - when I saw the thread title I was imagining branding.

Nevertheless, if these crosses were any of the following:

• Against the will of the kids
• Painful when being created
• Permanent

Then it pretty much amounts to assault. So-called Christians like this guy really drag Christianity through the muck.

It looks like he dragged a frigging wave-guide across the arm. In what universe is that a good idea?!

Psychic reports abuse, child services launch investigation, and the matter's quickly dropped only because the child's mother had her kid wired up with GPS.

The woman is unwilling, not unable, to work. Whether or not her decision has merit is up to you.

Good night, and good luck.

I think this is a good time for a justified lawsuit.

The tard's been fired.

That poor man is being persecuted for his faith. At least he didn't burn anything unchristian into the flesh of these children.

Volpone, defend this

Maybe it's just me but I'm thinking this post could start or be a part of an entirely different thread.

It was.

Missed that. I put it here since it shows that Americans aren't all the only ones with such levels of stupidity.

Persecuted for his faith? That's the most ridiculous thing I think you've posted, ever.


This fuggin' guy.

^ You do realize you just fell for the bait, don't you? Even though it was clearly marked by the smilie...

How crazy is this guy that he actually tried to sue the school district?

Apparently, he changed his mind, kept suing, and today got bitchslapped by SCOTUS.

All religious fanatics should be put to death.

Wow -- this was an oldie.

Yeah, missed that at first, and was surprised to see that asshole number_6 had returned.

That was my tipoff, gul.

The fact that this was first reported in '08 but the asshole didn't get fired until '11 says all that needs to be said about the power of the teachers union.

And people wonder why I'm anti teachers union and pro charter school.

If you check post 9, you'll see he got fired in ' 08. How he managed to get any kind of employment after that is another matter.

Mount Vernon School District in both cases. Apparently the union got his firing overturned and stayed on three more years, AFTER BURNING A KID.

Yay teachers unions, always looking out for their members, fuck the children.

How do you really feel?

How about transit unions?

We should probably have a conversation about this at some point, but suffice it to say, unions are contractually required to advocate for their members. Can't really work any other way.

Can't say this for sure, or for all unions, but I think they have some discretion to determine on their own whether they think a firing was unfair, and to pursue only the grievances they feel are legitimate.

All public sector unions would be decertified if I had my way.

Don't hate them as much as Teachers Unions, Cop Unions or Prison Guard Unions as they 'only' rob needed service from those who need it, instead of actively harming citizens and the country as a whole.

Some of the prison guard unions really take the cake -- what with the bit about funding so-called "victims' rights" groups whose main purpose is to ensure future employment by keeping as many people locked up as possible.