Creationist school teacher hearings over cross branding

[Questioninggeller]

I just wanted to post an interesting piece from the news about John Freshwater:

Ohio teacher, student tell different stories
October 29, 2008 08:09 EDT
www.wtte28.com

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) -- A central Ohio student has testified that his teacher burned the image of a cross on his arm, but the teacher spoke at the same hearing and denied any mark was left.
...

Source

this is from today

Teacher: Students were mistaught
Colleague testifies in Mount Vernon case
Friday, October 31, 2008 2:54 AM
By Dean Narciso

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A Mount Vernon High School teacher said she had to reteach science to freshmen after they received improper instruction from eighth-grade teacher John Freshwater.

"If they had been taught evolution in a scientific manner, they would not have agreed that evolution is controversial," Bonnie Schutte said.

Surveys that Schutte gave her students at the beginning of each school year included observations about their eighth-grade science classes, including: "It's all opinion. It's not proven fact," "It's a very open subject" and "we can't say what happened in the past because we weren't there."

Concerned that students wouldn't pass the science portion of the Ohio Graduation Test, Schutte complained to administrators, but little was done until this year.
...

Source

He's been teaching creationism in science class for over 20 years and school adminstrators waited until he burned a student to take action? Those adminstrators should be held accountable as well.

( http://www.pandasthumb.org/ is blogging daily on the hearings.)

 

[Eos of the Eons]

My grade 8 teacher didn't burn anyone, but taught the same things about devilution. Now he's the principal of the school.

 

[Dancing David]

Stupid is universally distributed throughout the universe, some days the concentrations are higher than others....

 

[Questioninggeller]

Here are some updates on the three cases involving John Freshwater's behavior.

On the one filed by the parents:

Settlement signed by both parties in civil lawsuit
Mount Vernon News.com
By Pamela Schehl
October 27, 2010


Documents obtained from the Licking County Probate/Juvenile Court suggest an end to the civil rights lawsuit filed by the Dennis family against suspended Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater may be in sight. Stephen and Jenifer Dennis, as well as Freshwater, have signed a settlement agreement which is now before the court.
...
The settlement involves a $300,000 payment by Freshwater’s insurer to Stephen and Jenifer Dennis to compensate them “for mental pain and other damages suffered.” The insurer, Ohio Casualty, is the school district’s liability carrier, and is involved because Freshwater was a school district employee at the time the lawsuit was filed.

A separate payment of $150,000, over the course of the next 13 years, will be used to purchase an annuity for their minor son, Zach Dennis, on whose behalf the lawsuit was originally filed. The settlement agreement also includes a $25,000 payment to Jones Day, the Dennises’ counsel.
...
In a voicemail left this morning, Freshwater said he had no comment regarding the settlement.

Full: Mount Vernon News.com


On the one filed by John Freshwater:

Science teacher didn't get settlement
The Columbus Dispatch
By Stephanie Czekalinski
October 23, 2010


The Mount Vernon school district did not offer a settlement to a teacher accused of teaching religion in his eighth-grade science class, an attorney representing the district said.

On Thursday, John Freshwater's attorneys filed a notice to dismiss a lawsuit that he filed against current and former Mount Vernon school-board members. The schools are trying to fire Freshwater; his lawsuit in U.S. District Court said his civil rights and right to freedom of speech were violated.

The suit is not ending because of a settlement, said attorney Sarah Moore, who represents the district in the civil case. "I can confirm there was no settlement, and we're not expecting any."
...
Freshwater wrote in an e-mail via his attorney that he was offered money several times to leave the district and withdraw his appeal, but he rejected those offers. He decided to drop the civil lawsuit and wait to hear the recommendation from the referee of the administrative hearing, R. Lee Shepherd, the e-mail said.
...

Full: The Columbus Dispatch


On the ongoing employment dismissal hearing:

Shepherd hopes for ruling by end of year
Mount Vernon News.com
By Pamela Schehl
November 9, 2010


A firm date remains elusive as to when the John Freshwater contract termination hearing will officially be concluded. Hearing referee R. Lee Shepherd told the News on Monday that within the last week to 10 days additional written materials have been submitted by both the school board attorney David Millstone and Freshwater’s lawyer Kelly Hamilton.
...
Shepherd said he has set a personal goal of reaching a decision by the end of this year, but added it is difficult to judge those timelines when new materials keep being submitted.
...

Full: Mount Vernon News.com