Freshwater Speaks Tonight

By way of background and for those unfamiliar with the John Freshwater story, I will briefly recap it and provide you a few resources to further your knowledge. John Freshwater is a middle school science teacher who dared to bring his faith into the classroom. He dared to have a Judeo-Christian Bible visible on top of his desk in his classroom. Mark it now, this is not the Soviet Union, Red China or Saudi Arabia where it was or still is illegal to possess a Bible, it is rural small-town Mount Vernon, Ohio.

FRESHWATER IN HOT WATER

His refusal to acquiesce his first amendment rights landed Freshwater in hot water. After 20 years of teaching in an excellent fashion in that school district he is facing termination of his teaching contract.

“Did Christian Teacher “Brand” His Students?” is an excellent article written by Lee Duigon last month for Calcedon Foundation. The article brings us up-to-date on the events related to the John Freshwater controversy. We have also written a series of articles about Mr. Freshwater, which you can review here.

FRESHWATER GETS HIS DAY AT IN “COURT”

Tonight, Monday, August 4, at 7:30 P.M. at the Mount Vernon City Schools Board Meeting, which by the way is the last one before John Freshwater’s termination appeal hearing on August 26, Mr. Freshwater will be making a public statement. Don Matolyak (www.BibleOnTheDesk.com), John Freshwater’s Pastor, has urged all Bible-believing Christians in Mount Vernon and surrounding areas to attend this important board meeting and to show support for Mr. Freshwater. The school board meeting will be held in the Middle School Library.

At the July 7, 2008 School Board meeting six people spoke in support of Mr. Freshwater. One person spoke against him. In his comments, Sam Barone thanked the Board for firing John and said that there were thousands in Mt. Vernon who supported this action. However, there were only a half-dozen supporters of the school board’s action in attendance, while supporters of John Freshwater numbered 90.

Mr. Barone wishfully implied that support for Freshwater is waning. Pastor Matolyak put it this way, “I believe Mr. Barone put out a challenge for Evangelical, Bible-believing Christians to come and support a wonderful and an excellent teacher in his quest to keep his job teaching Eighth Grade Science and his Bible on his desk. Because John is intending to make a public statement, I am sure there will be a number of the media in attendance.”

WATCH THE MEDIA'S COVERAGE

Just a note, the media, especially the Columbus Dispatch, coverage has been grossly slanted in favor of the termination and condemnation of John Freshwater. It was the Dispatch that published the results of the investigator's report even before it was discussed by the school board or provided to Mr. Freshwater. Their coverage of the trial emphasized only those areas that present Freshwater in a negative light. For example, a large rally and follow-up prayer gathering were ignored, even though the press received notice of the events. I am sure the press will be there tonight and spin their account in anyway but positive or balanced.