Righting 1st Amendment Wrongs
We have been following the John Freshwater story on this blog closely. A reader of A Good Choice . . . blog commented on the article, "Freshwater Legal Defense Fund." I responded to a comment made by that reader today. I repeat it here because others may have the same concern.
Anonymous said...
What about the branding? Where in the Bible does it mention branding children is okay?
I would send money to defend religious freedom, but I will not defend the branding. That's child abuse.
Why aren't you mentioning the branding? Does your silence mean you support it?
gregjaye said...
There was no branding. See related articles here and here.
I agree deliberate branding or burning of a child would be abuse. However, the pictures circulating are not necessarily truthful. It will take a school board hearing to hear Mr. Freshwater's appeal (8/26) and the lawsuit to examine the "evidence" of the photo.
John Freshwater stated that he did not burn or brand any child.
There is some suspicion that the photos are not photos of any student resulting from the experiment done in the classroom.
I heard Columbus area talk show host Bob Burney say that his grandson this past school year was a student in Mr. Freshwater's class - an eye witness and he told his grandfather that their was no branding.
The branding issue was blown up by the Columbus Dispatch, the school board and the investigator - to embellish their position.
We will see what happens as the hearing and the trial plays out . . .
Furthermore, the questionable branding or burning issue is merely a diversionary tactic to turn attention away from the violation of Mr. Freshwater's right to keep his personal Bible on top of his classroom desk. That remains the central issue in this case.
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I hope SIR that you live in the community at hand. If not you should not support such hearsay and lies. He has ADMITTED he did a science experiment that left marks on kids. He called them x's. His friend was on the radio saying the the kids didn't know it would burn them, but John did. He said the kids said burn me Mr Freshwater. If you would like a link to the radio cast I will provide it. It sounds like someone is trying to cover up for themselves! I know a child that was in the classroom, she saw it happen. The report has indicated there are witness' and it DID happen.
ReplyDeleteMr Freshwater had 3 different science classes this year. The incident did not happen in all of them.
ReplyDeleteAnon -
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
Please do provide the radio cast link.
"Left marks" seems to me to be a lot different than BRANDING or BURNING.
There were 2 radio shows. On this one he says "do it to me" not "burn" me. So sorry.
ReplyDeleteIt does say that the teacher knew it would "burn " them. (audio link is part way down the article)
http://www.610wtvn.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=118673&article=3585571
Hi Anon 2:50 PM 071209 -
ReplyDeleteI listened to that news report. I listened also to several of Dave Daubenmire's talk shows as well as the Bob Burney radio show, which included an extensive interview with John Freshwater's pastor.
The experiment in question was done for nearly 20 years. As Mary indicated previously there were 3 science classes and no other student complained about this "branding" or "burning." I could see kids asking to be used to be experimented upon. Thinking it was fun they probably got carried away sometimes during those classes. However, Mr. Freshwater is not the type of individual who would abuse children.
If through misuse of the instrument and an "X" or a "cross" resulted I doubt that it would have taken 3-4 weeks to go away as the student in the lawsuit alleges.
This allegation was investigated in December and there was apparently no cause for action to be taken at that time.
Only when the issue of the Bible on the desk and the threat of a lawsuit did the school board make an issue of the "branding" or "burning." Something smells foul in this whole incident.
I believe that Mr. Freshwater will eventually be fully vindicated at the school board hearing and/or the forthcoming trial.
"If through misuse of the instrument and an "X" or a "cross" resulted I doubt that it would have taken 3-4 weeks to go away as the student in the lawsuit alleges."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't care if it lasted 3 hours. Teachers should not do that.
"The experiment in question was done for nearly 20 years. As Mary indicated previously there were 3 science classes and no other student complained about this "branding" or "burning." I could see kids asking to be used to be experimented upon. Thinking it was fun they probably got carried away sometimes during those classes. However, Mr. Freshwater is not the type of individual who would abuse children."
Now you are admitting that he admitted there was an experiment which "marked" kids. Then why on TV did he deny it totally? No one said he intended to abuse kids, or did I miss that somewhere?
quote - Furthermore, the questionable branding or burning issue is merely a diversionary tactic to turn attention away from the violation of Mr. Freshwater's right to keep his personal Bible on top of his classroom desk. That remains the central issue in this case. - unquote
ReplyDeleteThat's poppycock. The CENTRAL issue is that JF has dumbed down his science teaching and dumbed down his students. JF was hired to teach science NOT theology. He has missed his calling. If JF wants to teach religious/creationist/ID based science he can teach in a private school. There is one in Mt. Vernon, but, of course, he will have to take a pay cut. JF has wasted tax payer resources long enough. He should have been fired for incompetence long ago. William