Righting 1st Amendment Wrongs
Truth:
The statement or principle
that applies
to all people
in all places
at all times.
(Mount Vernon, Ohio) The above quote was imprinted on the bright red t-shirt worn by a young athletic young man attending the regular September Mount Vernon City School Board meeting in Monday evening. He, as did I, attended the meeting in support of John Freshwater, who the school board desires to terminate primarily because he dared to keep his Bible on his desk in his classroom. He is a middle school science teacher, whose only crime was living out his Christian faith outside of the 4 walls of his church. See the articles which I have written following the progress of this illustrative case.
According to my estimation there were between 150 and 200 people attending the start of the board meeting. The vast majority did so in support of John Freshwater. The high school theater was again needed to accommodate the large crowd of mostly supporters of Mr. Freshwater. There were not as many supporters as in August – the theater was more than half filled tonight, whereas there was standing room only last month. There were no visible or vocal supports of the School Board present.
During each board meeting the practice has been to allow a 15 minute slot for the purpose of hearing from the public on various matter. Input was limited to only those persons living within the boundaries of the school district. In the three most recent board meetings the board waived the 15 minute rule and allowed a greater number of persons to express their opinions pro and con on the John Freshwater matter. At the previous meeting almost 30 people spoke out, mostly on behalf of John Freshwater.
TRUTH IS NOT WELCOME HERE!
Unlike the previous board meeting, only 4 people spoke. All of them spoke on behalf and in defense of Mr. Freshwater. One of the speakers revealed that a change in policy implemented this new school year prohibited all displays of religious material or posters in all classrooms of the middle school. Furthermore, all extra-curricular meetings during the student’s lunch hour were also banned. In past years the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) met with a group of Middle School students. It is difficult for middle schools student, who do not drive, to remain after school to participate in the FCA meetings. Apparently the school administration wanted to discourage participation in this worthwhile organization. By the way, Mr. Freshwater was very active in this organization. He has been suspended since the boards decision to terminate his contract. He has appealed that decision and is awaiting a hearing, which has been rescheduled at least twice. It is now scheduled to take place in October.
THE BIBLE IS OUT, PORN IS IN
One of the speakers, Jeff Kline brought up the subject of the types of books permitted in the schools. He spoke about this topic at the August School Board's meeting during the public participation portion of that meeting. He indicated that a number of vile, sexually oriented books were discovered to be in the libraries of the elementary, middle schools and high schools. It was very ironic that the Bible is considered such an offensive book, but books filled with pornographic material are apparently welcomed and endorsed. One of the board members did indicate that there is a process to recommend removal of any objectionable book(s) from the library by completing a form that was on display on the table at the front of the auditorium.
According to my estimation there were between 150 and 200 people attending the start of the board meeting. The vast majority did so in support of John Freshwater. The high school theater was again needed to accommodate the large crowd of mostly supporters of Mr. Freshwater. There were not as many supporters as in August – the theater was more than half filled tonight, whereas there was standing room only last month. There were no visible or vocal supports of the School Board present.
During each board meeting the practice has been to allow a 15 minute slot for the purpose of hearing from the public on various matter. Input was limited to only those persons living within the boundaries of the school district. In the three most recent board meetings the board waived the 15 minute rule and allowed a greater number of persons to express their opinions pro and con on the John Freshwater matter. At the previous meeting almost 30 people spoke out, mostly on behalf of John Freshwater.
TRUTH IS NOT WELCOME HERE!
Unlike the previous board meeting, only 4 people spoke. All of them spoke on behalf and in defense of Mr. Freshwater. One of the speakers revealed that a change in policy implemented this new school year prohibited all displays of religious material or posters in all classrooms of the middle school. Furthermore, all extra-curricular meetings during the student’s lunch hour were also banned. In past years the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) met with a group of Middle School students. It is difficult for middle schools student, who do not drive, to remain after school to participate in the FCA meetings. Apparently the school administration wanted to discourage participation in this worthwhile organization. By the way, Mr. Freshwater was very active in this organization. He has been suspended since the boards decision to terminate his contract. He has appealed that decision and is awaiting a hearing, which has been rescheduled at least twice. It is now scheduled to take place in October.
THE BIBLE IS OUT, PORN IS IN
One of the speakers, Jeff Kline brought up the subject of the types of books permitted in the schools. He spoke about this topic at the August School Board's meeting during the public participation portion of that meeting. He indicated that a number of vile, sexually oriented books were discovered to be in the libraries of the elementary, middle schools and high schools. It was very ironic that the Bible is considered such an offensive book, but books filled with pornographic material are apparently welcomed and endorsed. One of the board members did indicate that there is a process to recommend removal of any objectionable book(s) from the library by completing a form that was on display on the table at the front of the auditorium.
.
I also wondered if now other teachers were not permitted to keep their bibles on their desks in their classrooms as several had been doing as recently as last year. If so, it would seem to me that there would be grounds for a class action lawsuit against the school and district for restricting the religious freedom of the teachers.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN OCTOBER?
I believe that Mr. Freshwater will be vindicated by the “objective” hearing officer who will oversee and rule at his termination hearing. He will be reinstated, but the pressure will be intense for him to conform to the anti-Christian environment fostered by Mr. White the principal of the middle school, who will be backed by the Mr. Short the Superintendent and the School Board.
Mr. Freshwater will have to file a lawsuit in order to protect any measure of his freedom of religion and his freedom to express his religion.
CONCLUSION
What we see in Mount Vernon, Ohio is a microcosm of what has happened and what is happening to a once vital educational system. Since 1962, with the removal of prayer from America's schools, then the removal of the Bible, then the incremental and insidious purging of any reference to God or Christian influence from our schools, our textbooks and the thorough indoctrination of the false theory of evolution as fact, the schools have progressively declined until they are now mediocre to poor. In our schools lies and the false religion of secular humanism have replaced the principles, virtues and values formerly based on Christianity. This is progress? No, this is absurdity, it is foolishness!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN OCTOBER?
I believe that Mr. Freshwater will be vindicated by the “objective” hearing officer who will oversee and rule at his termination hearing. He will be reinstated, but the pressure will be intense for him to conform to the anti-Christian environment fostered by Mr. White the principal of the middle school, who will be backed by the Mr. Short the Superintendent and the School Board.
Mr. Freshwater will have to file a lawsuit in order to protect any measure of his freedom of religion and his freedom to express his religion.
CONCLUSION
What we see in Mount Vernon, Ohio is a microcosm of what has happened and what is happening to a once vital educational system. Since 1962, with the removal of prayer from America's schools, then the removal of the Bible, then the incremental and insidious purging of any reference to God or Christian influence from our schools, our textbooks and the thorough indoctrination of the false theory of evolution as fact, the schools have progressively declined until they are now mediocre to poor. In our schools lies and the false religion of secular humanism have replaced the principles, virtues and values formerly based on Christianity. This is progress? No, this is absurdity, it is foolishness!
RESOURCES
To hear audio coverage of the four participatants who presented at the public portion of the 9/08/08 School Board Meeting see
Anon 9:54 AM -
ReplyDeleteAgain - the burning of that student is a non-issue as will be proven during the October hearing.
The only burning is that of an excellent, caring, dedicated science teacher swimming against the tide of rampant mediocrity sweeping through the American educational environment since the 1960s.
This is insanity. He hurt a child. He should be in jail for ABUSE. This is not about being secular, he has been warned about the contents of his class room and his techniques. But this has everything to do with the abuse of a child. Criminal charges cannot be ignored.
ReplyDelete