Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Day 8 of the John Freshwater Inquisition

Righting First Amendment Wrongs

The John Freshwater contract hearing continued today. See my previous articles and comments regarding this case, including the first seven days of the hearing, which were held last October and restarted on Tuesday of this week.

Today, Kelly Hamilton, Freshwater’s attorney, continued to question Thomas Herlevi, owner of HR on Call, the firm hired by the Mount Vernon Board of Education to investigate allegations against the middle school science teacher. According to MountVernonNews.com, reporter Pam Schehl, special emphasis today was put on information Herlevi found regarding the alleged Tesla coil injury.


To me the big story is what happened outside of the hearing room. It was the Columbus Dispatch editorial that was published today in the midst of the hearing. I will comment on some of what the malicious editor(s) stated.

“A TEACHING MOMENT”

The liberally biased and Columbus based Dispatch newspaper, a big player in the Opposition Media (opposing everything that America has stood for since its founding – its Judeo-Christian roots, its respect for God, its values and virtues in favor of being perfectly politically correct, - according to the most extreme of special interests – including the homosexual advocates, the abortion lobby, the national teachers unions, the ACLU-types, etc) took the opportunity of the John Freshwater “trial” to try to make an example of Freshwater. They have him convicted already, before the hearing has even been completed. This is what they have done all along. It was this yellow journalistic rag that leaked the results of the Investigator's Report to the public even before John Freshwater or his attorneys had an opportunity to review it. They had him convicted back before the “trial” began. Apparently this is their form of Amerikan justice.

The disgraceful Dispatch held Freshwater up as an example of what not to permit to occur in our what amounts to government indoctrination centers, “The unfortunate experience (the Freshwater situation) should be a cautionary lesson to other school districts dealing with teachers whose personal beliefs get in the way of their responsibility to educate: Don't look the other way for years, even if the teacher is well-liked and personable. The mistake was not in firing Freshwater but in waiting so long to do it.”

Are they suggesting personal beliefs be outlawed? Is this Leningrad or Moscow or Havana or Ho Chi Min City? No, it is Mount Vernon, Ohio, USA! Are teachers expected to check there personal faith at the door before they enter the school building? I do not think that that is what our Founders had in mind when they established this nation.

The editorial also fails to mention that Freshwater was an excellent teacher. His students did better than the other Mount Vernon middle school science students on the state tests. This was conveniently overlooked by the very biased, agenda-driven Dispatch. Apparently a gift and a love to teach and motivate kids to higher standards and higher achievement and higher aspirations is no longer necessary or important in 21st century American schools. Here we are driving away a great teacher instead of fostering and encouraging him. What is this telling our teachers?

Another interesting point made by the Columbus Dispatch was their statement that “The complaint of the "branding," brought by one student's parents, was shocking, but it wasn't new to school officials; neither were the complaints about Freshwater's religious comments nor, most important, that he used a science classroom to promote nonscientific, religiously based ideas of creation.” Did you catch that last phrase? Isn’t that precisely what Darwinian Evolution itself is? The Darwinian Theory of Evolution is a flaw-filled theory. It has more weaknesses than strengths. Aren’t you promoting the secular-humanistic religion when you advance that creed? Is it okay to promote one “religion” and not another viewpoint?

The editorial declares, “All public-school students are entitled to education free of religious indoctrination, yet he told students that homosexuality is a sin and declared that some non-Christian religions are false.”

So are the editors of the Dispatch saying that there should be a separation of God from the state? Are they saying that children should be protected from being poisoned by their Creator? Is the Dispatch saying that one type of indoctrination (Marxism, evolutionism, radical environmentalism, feminism) is preferred over sharing of centuries-old truth and principles?

By the way, the Bible, the ultimate authority for man, not John Freshwater, declares homosexual behavior to be sinful. The truth is that homosexual behavior is abnormal, immoral, unnatural, and unhealthy. That may not be politically correct, it may not even be tolerant, but it is truthful! But I guess that is no long the standard we hold forth, now is it?

Newsflash, not everyone who declares themselves to be “Christians” are Christians. There are many apostate Christians. For me anyone who supports, promotes abortion or homosexuality is suspect of not being a true Christian. Again, truth may not matter anymore to some.

Furthermore, I do not buy the Dispatch editors comment that Freshwater “(D)emonstrated disregard for science. . .(and this is one of the major reasons which) . . . . disqualifies him to teach in public schools.” Questioning evolution is NOT disregarding science. It is itself scientific inquiry. It is critical thinking to challenge the status quo. However, in the minds of the Dispatch editors apparently the status quo, in this case, the false theory of evolution, is the only acceptable standard.

I had to laugh (because it is otherwise so heart wrenching and I didn’t want to cry) at the concluding paragraph of the Dispatch editorial, “Other school districts with budding John Freshwaters should take heed. Confronting a popular teacher is controversial, but preserving sound education is essential.” Really? So promoting godless, secular-humanistic Marxist indoctrination is a better way of preserving sound education? I don’t think so.

LESSON LEARNED?


The more the dizzy Dispatch and other supporters of our present failed public schools talk and argue for its continuance. The more they promote its God-free environment. The more ammunition and reason they give parents for seriously considering yanking their children out of those literal hell-holes, destructive dens of iniquity. The time, in fact, is now to do so. See the Exodus Mandate Project.

The John Freshwater case has also been instructive in pointing out how far our public schools have fallen in terms of what is being taught and what is important to the so-called educators. What they are most concerned about? It seems to me, that it is preserving the status quo – an entrenched failed system itself. Anyone who dares to come up against that system in anyway is a marked man or woman.

What is ultimately at stake here in this case is – freedom to express one’s faith and academic freedom.

26 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:40 PM

    Did you ever think maybe the Dispatch did a public records request and got the report fair and square?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:43 PM

    "No, it is Mount Vernon, Ohio, USA! Are teachers expected to check there personal faith at the door before they enter the school building? I do not think that that is what our Founders had in mind when they established this nation."

    Yes they did. They did not want Government and Religion involved together. Teachers at a private school can say whatever they want.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:46 PM

    "Another interesting point made by the Columbus Dispatch was their statement that “The complaint of the "branding," brought by one student's parents, was shocking, but it wasn't new to school officials; neither were the complaints about Freshwater's religious comments nor, most important, that he used a science classroom to promote nonscientific, religiously based ideas of creation.” Did you catch that last phrase? Isn’t that precisely what Darwinian Evolution itself is? The Darwinian Theory of Evolution is a flaw-filled theory. It has more weaknesses than strengths. Aren’t you promoting the secular-humanistic religion when you advance that creed? Is it okay to promote one “religion” and not another viewpoint?"

    It has been proven in court cases that ID, Creationism and teaching the controversy are all Religion trying to be disquised.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous11:48 PM

    "By the way, the Bible, the ultimate authority for man, not John Freshwater, declares homosexual behavior to be sinful. The truth is that homosexual behavior is abnormal, immoral, unnatural, and unhealthy. That may not be politically correct, it may not even be tolerant, but it is truthful! But I guess that is no long the standard we hold forth, now is it?"

    This is your opinion. Because you agree with Mr Freshwater you think he should teach his thoughts. If you didn't agree with him, you would not be jumping on the bandwagon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anon. 1140PM -

    Thanks for your comment.

    No, that report had just been completed - don't think it had been part of any public record yet. It had just been completed . . .

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous11:51 PM

    "So promoting godless, secular-humanistic Marxist indoctrination is a better way of preserving sound education? I don’t think so."

    So burning kids with a tesla coil is sound education? I don't think so.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anon. 1143PM -

    Thank you for your comment.

    I vehemently disagree with you as would the vast majority of our Founding Fathers. Where in the Consitution do you get the idea that "They did not want Government and Religion involved together?"

    Actually it was the exact opposite. Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion [the restriction is on Congress and the government) OR THE FREE EXERCUSE THEREOF . . .

    What do you not understand about the founders desisre for each American to enjoy practicing his or her wherever and whenever?

    ReplyDelete
  8. anon 1146PM -

    Thanks for your comment.

    You said, "It has been proven in court cases that ID, Creationism and teaching the controversy are all Religion trying to be disquised."

    So what! The courts also said that blacks do not have equal rights as whites.

    The court has said murdering helpless innocent babies for the convenience of others is okay.

    The court has said that homosexual behavior and sodomy are acceptable behavior.

    The court has been wrong often and is wrong in the case of ID and Creationism. Evolution is a seriously flawed, unproven theory.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:05 AM

    gregjaye-
    I disagree if you look at the date on the HR On Call report it says June 19th. The date of the Dispatch article is June 20th.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anon ll48PM

    There is an ultimate authority. Believe it or not. The Judeo-Christian Bible contains the principles of life. The Founders knew it and relied on it.

    Man is a fallen, depraved creature. He shakes his feeble fist at his Creator . . . A bad idea . . .

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous12:07 AM

    "So what! The courts also said that blacks do not have equal rights as whites."

    All the others you mentioned are correct. Our courts adapt as we become educated as seen in your quote above. ID is NOT science.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anon 1151 PM

    Thanks for your comment.

    You said, "So burning kids with a tesla coil is sound education? I don't think so." No. However, it has not been proven that he did deliberately "burn" the students.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous12:11 AM

    Here let me borrow some previous posts:
    from Mary
    No your premise is BOGUS!
    The constitution is a secular document. it doesn't contain any mention of Jesus Christ or Christianity. The Treaty of Tripoli even confirms this. It was approved unanimously by the Senate in 1797.It states "The government of the United States is not in any sense, founded on the Christian religion....." Our founding fathers wanted Americans to have religious freedom, something that was lacking in England at the time.
    You do not have to be sworn in on a Bible in a court of law or for political office. You can use any book you wish.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous12:12 AM

    Here is another:
    Mary said...
    That's funny you would quote John Adams. The Senate I spoke of was the senate under the administration of John Adams!
    In 1786 Virginia passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Leberty which guarenteed religious freedom to ALL, even non Christians.
    If the founding fathers wanted or intended for a Christian Nation, it would have appeared in the Constitution. Which it does not.
    Would you like me to quote the letter to the Danbury Baptists? Where Thomas Jefferson clearifies the intent of the Constitution and that there "must be a wall of seperation between Church and the State"? They too were confused by the idea of religious equality, and Jefferson clarified it for them. Jefferson said this wall was built with the ratification of the first Amendment. Which the Amendments were ratified effective Dec. 15th 1791.
    The quotes you gave are personal letters sharing his personal view. They do not reflect government at all. Shall we share some of Bill Clintons letters in years to come and say this is what our government is based on? I think not!
    The Seperstion of Church and State must be maintained, this is to protect the religious freedoms for ALL of us. That includes you. I am sure you would like to continue practicing your religion as YOU wish. Not as the Government mandates.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous12:14 AM

    "Thanks for your comment.

    You said, "So burning kids with a tesla coil is sound education? I don't think so." No. However, it has not been proven that he did deliberately "burn" the students."

    If you would read what he has testified he said he did use the machine on the kids and he knew it would leave a mark!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anon 1207AM

    Thanks you for your comment.

    You indicated that the courts were correct on abortion and sodomy - "All the others you mentioned are correct. Our courts adapt as we become educated as seen in your quote above. ID is NOT science."

    I disagree that the Constitution is a living document, subject to the whims of society and the whims of activist judges. It makes a mockery of the law.

    Evolution is not science. It is a theory - a badly flawed one at that!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous12:23 AM

    Here let me help you:

    You your self post this link on your blog.
    from: http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2008/10/freshwater-hear-1.html

    "He testified that he’d used the Tesla coil on somewhere in the range of 500 to 600 students through the years."

    "Freshwater then solicited individual volunteers to be shocked. Zachary was among 4-6 volunteers."

    "He did acknowledge saying he put an “X” on Zachary’s arm."

    "Asked if when students are zapped individually does it leave a mark, Freshwater responded “A slight reddening.”"

    He admits he did this!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anon 1214PM

    I do not consider a BURN and a MARK to be synonomous, do you?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12:25 AM

    "Evolution is not science. It is a theory - a badly flawed one at that!"

    Once again that is YOUR opinion. Which you are allowed to have. You just can't teach it as a state employee to a captive audience of public school CHILDREN!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous12:26 AM

    "I do not consider a BURN and a MARK to be synonomous, do you?"

    No, but a mark left by electricity is an electrical burn in my book. So this would qualify as a burn to me.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anon 1223AM

    Again, a Slight reddening and a MARK are NOT the same as a BURN.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous12:29 AM

    "Again, a Slight reddening and a MARK are NOT the same as a BURN."

    Whatever you or Mr Freshwater call something cause by electricity, IT SHOULD NOT BE DONE AT SCHOOL!!
    I don't care what you call it!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anon 1225AM

    There is a battle going on in Texas over this very thing. In Texas the strengths AND weaknesses of evolution are taught]. That is as it should be . . .

    ReplyDelete
  24. Can I ask a couple of questions since I am unfamiliar with this case? Was Mr. Freshwater using this coil as a method of discipline or was he showing a science experiment to his kids? And did he offer warning as to the effects of the experiment before going forward with the child? And, how old were these kids?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous9:05 AM

    Pearl-
    Link to the report is here:
    http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/06/19/Freshwater.pdf

    Ohio has a law that anyone under 14 can't consent. These kids were 13.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous9:49 PM

    Great article Greg.

    As a retired teacher I can say that getting complaints comes with the job. I know of no teacher who is without complaints. So that part of the Dispatch editorial is meaningless.

    The bottom line is an anti-Christian bias which is perpetuated by the need for atheist to maintain control of public schools to espouse their beliefs. A major one of the atheistic beliefs is evolutionism.

    As much as I’d lke to see Mr. Freshwater “win” I know--for sure--that public schools cannot be reformed. We must RESCUE our children and get them into home or Christian schools before it is too late.

    Since Ohio is a neighbor of West Virginia (my home state), "A Good Choice" blog readers may be interested in my website at http://www.insectman.us/exodus-mandate-wv/index.htm.

    Karl Priest

    ReplyDelete