Ousted Christian Teacher John Freshwater Awaiting Result of His Day in (Ohio Supreme) Court

This very controversial case of a highly acclaimed and well-liked veteran Christian middle school teacher, John Freshwater, may soon be resolved. Eric Keller reported in the Kenyon Collegian that we may soon hear the decision of the Ohio Supreme Court on this important religious freedom-unjust termination case. I had been following this case (see also here, here, and here) for some time and even attended a few of the school board hearings that were referred to in the Keller article and it is with great interest and concern that I anticipate the results.

Essentially the Freshwater case pits two worldviews against each other, the secular-humanistic versus the traditional Judeo-Christian. I believe that Intelligent Design or Creationism should be taught or considered as a “theoretical” equal to evolution, which is not a proven explanation of creation. Evolution is, however, a fundamental cornerstone of the secular-humanist philosophy which dominates American education at all levels today.

In Keller’s article in the Kenyon College newspaper, Ohio Supreme Court to issue verdict soon in Freshwater case, he quotes some professors who come from a secular-humanist perspective, which is not surprising coming from a liberal institution.

Here are two disturbing quotes outlining and demonstrating the academic and “scientific” bias toward Mr. Freshwater and his position:

“This (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) is a very conservative religious community,” (Biology Professor Wade) Powell said. “A lot of people get caught up in their majority status and fail to really think about what it must feel like for other people to have folks in power dictating what is common and acceptable in terms of religious practice.” Is the professor defending the people of Mt. Vernon when they see the local school board discriminating against a star teacher for living out his Christian faith? I don’t think so. Or is Professor Powell defending those that have a secular-humanist perspective who absolutely reject the worldview of a teacher who dares to live out his faith and who practices it?  And the powers that be refuse to tolerate him and his differing beliefs? I believe that Powell is communicating the later interpretation, with which I disagree. The “people in power dictating” is actually the school board, which refuses to respect the community standards in which they serve and who reject the first amendment of our Constitution.

“Mr. Freshwater’s point of view is one that’s detrimental to science education,” (Associate Professor of Biology Andrew) Kerkhoff said. “Yet for 20 years, he was a very popular science educator within the public school system.” That tells us what a difficult problem this is.” What this “learned” man is saying is that the Judeo-Christian worldview has no place in Academia, Science, and by implication no place in American society! Not only was Mr. Freshwater popular, he was an effective and beloved teacher. I guess that is dangerous and intolerable in today’s failed education system.