Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Thanks to Peter Irons for helping me get a copy of the complaint in the Freshwater case. Most of the allegations in the case have already been aired in the press and reported here, but here's something new I didn't know. The now-infamous incident where Freshwater burned crosses into the arms of two students, including the plaintiff in this case, took place on Dec. 6, 2007. On December 7, 2007, the parents notified the superintendent of schools, Stephen Short. of what had happened.
Here's the stunning part: Freshwater was not disciplined at all for it. The principal wrote a letter to Freshwater telling him not to do it again, but didn't even place a copy of that letter in his personnel file (he told the parents that if Freshwater disobeyed the letter, then they would place the letter in his file). That was it, the sum total of the school's reaction to Freshwater's actions.
Remember, this cross was 6 inches long on the kid's arm and it was made with a device that comes with a warning never to bring it in contact with human skin. It raised welts and blisters and was a serious burn that will likely leave a scar. A science teacher used a high voltage device to burn that cross into an 8th grader's arm, for crying out loud. Not only should he have been fired on the spot, the case should have been referred to the prosecutor's office.
The complaint also alleges that Freshwater has "code words" that he uses to let his students know when he thinks something in the textbook is false and contrary to the Bible. It further alleges that he offered extra credit to students for homework related to intelligent design. The complaint alleges that the school has been negligent and acted with indifference to the constitutional rights of students. I'd say it's much worse than that. They acted with indifference to the safety of students as well.
Incidentally, the case has been filed with the plaintiff under the name of James Doe to protect his identity. A motion was filed for a protective order to hide his identity because of concern over retaliation, and they submitted articles from the newspaper showing that harassment has already taken place against students who aren't sufficiently supportive of the teacher.
Politics
Comments
Ed:
I sent you an e-mail about an incident in NC--makes this look like a picnic.
Freshwater would undoubtedly be defended by a whole host of KKKristic morons for his behavior. What's needed is for someone to brand his forehead with "666".
Posted by: democommie | June 19, 2008 9:20 AM
The sad part is, I'm not really that stunned by this.
If he had burned something other than a cross onto them, then I would be stunned that they didn't discipline him. But I've gotten used to people changing their moral standards whenever religion is involved. Being a total shitbag is unacceptable, unless you're a total shitbag for Christ. Burning your students with a dangerous device is unacceptable, unless you burn your students with a dangerous device for Christ.
In fact, what would be stunning to me would be to see people actually applying moral standards consistently, regardless of religion.
Posted by: Wes | June 19, 2008 9:38 AM
There's also the recently leaked tidbit that the principal allowed Freshwater to know the names of the plaintiffs, even after a promise of anonimity, then proceeded to place one of the students in Freshwater's supervision during a field trip. (The student found out beforehand and bowed out of the trip.)
So it appears not that the principal is just an enabler, but he's an active supporting douchbag.
Posted by: FastLane | June 19, 2008 9:45 AM
I'm confused, if no-one is denying this now why isn't he being prosecuted for the past grievous assault? What's the Statute of Limitations for this kind of thing?
Posted by: David Durant | June 19, 2008 10:03 AM
Remind me again why Freshwater wasn't arrested and tried for assault and battery?
Posted by: phil | June 19, 2008 10:05 AM
Remind me again why Freshwater wasn't arrested and tried for assault and battery?
He's a good Christian man who has accepted Christ as his personal savior, the act of which trumps any subsequent actions?
Posted by: Josh | June 19, 2008 10:37 AM
I've been re-reading the news articles on this, looking for one thing: a denial. Has Freshwater or one of his representatives actually come out and stated plainly "No, this did not happen"? Looking through the Columbus Dispatch articles, all I find are these:
From May 11th:
From April 22nd:
So, it's an old allegation, and it wasn't acted upon. Why won't he say "It didn't happen?" Or "This accusation is false?"
Obviously the school administration does not think this allegation is completely false and without merit, or they certainly would have said so by now. Knowing that, what the smeg is going on here? Why is the media continuing to treat this as a case about a teacher's right to keep a Bible on his desk?
I have only two questions at this point: "Who are these people?" and "Why are they crazy?". I suspect the answer to both lies in the research regarding the psychology of authoritarian followers.
Posted by: DaveL | June 19, 2008 10:58 AM
"an e-mail about an incident in NC--makes this look like a picnic"
I'm curious.
Posted by: Bill in NC | June 19, 2008 11:17 AM
Democommie, what the hell happened in NC?
Posted by: Steve | June 19, 2008 11:18 AM
Democommie, I'd like to know about the NC incident as well.
Posted by: Lance in NC | June 19, 2008 12:08 PM
... Freshwater was not disciplined at all ...
What's this country coming to? Damned permissive liberals!
(Democommie - ditto!)
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | June 19, 2008 12:25 PM
I think demmocomie is referring to this story.
Sick. Not far from where I used to live.
Posted by: Spirula | June 19, 2008 12:38 PM
(Not sure where that link went.)
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/06/17/mcmillans.html
Posted by: Spirula | June 19, 2008 12:51 PM
Dave L. said "what the smeg is going on here?"
Thanks for the Red Dwarf reference!
Posted by: W. | June 19, 2008 3:32 PM
From tonight's Columbus Dispatch:
"A Mount Vernon science teacher burned crosses onto students' arms, told students that gays are sinners and disobeyed his bosses by not removing all religious items from his classroom, a probe found.
While John Freshwater preached his Christian beliefs in his classroom, he also undermined the teaching of science in Mount Vernon Middle School by discrediting the theory of evolution, according to outside investigators hired by the district. The Dispatch obtained a copy of the report today.
'There is a significant amount of evidence that Mr. Freshwaters' teachings regarding subjects related to evolution were not consistent with the curriculum of the Mount Vernon City Schools and State standards,' investigators from HR on Call reported.
'Contrary to Mr. Freshwater's statement, the evidence indicates he has been teaching creationism and intelligent design and has been teaching the unreliability of carbon dating in support of opposition to evolution,' the report said. 'He has done so in spite of specific directives not to teach creationism or intelligent design.' "
Posted by: Cheryl Shepherd-Adams | June 19, 2008 8:09 PM
Greetings from Knox County!
The last (and only) time anything actually happened in Mount Vernon was in 1863 (Clement Vallandigham -- interesting story) and I suspect that an overwhelming majority of residents would prefer for it to stay that way. I wouldn't have expected the town to step up to the role of Ground Zero of the Disenlightenment. The school district needs to cut their losses immediately. I don't think they have any idea what they're borrowing. By the time this is over, the town will be one of the top handful of laughingstocks in American history. They're not by any means good people, but they don't deserve THAT -- a distinction that ought at least to be earned by the exercise of some originality.
Freshwater should of course have gone to prison within minutes of the burning incident and should be there still. As for the parents of the students who have committed violence against other students, the pillory comes to mind -- ideally in March, which for the past several years has been our coldest month.
Posted by: Frank Wilhoit | June 19, 2008 9:01 PM
Spirula and everyone else:
Spirula's got the right link. Sorry, not to get back sooner--I was on the run all day.
Sounds like a pretty sad way to discipline a teen-ager.
Posted by: democommie | June 19, 2008 9:49 PM
The Dispatch article has been edited to read:
"A Mount Vernon teacher undermined science instruction in the public school district by discrediting evolution in his classroom and focusing on creationism and intelligent design, a probe has found.
Eighth-graders who were taught by John Freshwater frequently had to be re-taught in high school what they were supposed to have learned in Freshwater's class, according to outside investigators hired by the district.
For 11 years, other teachers in the school district and people in the community complained about Freshwater preaching his Christian beliefs in class and slamming scientific theories, a school administrator told investigators.
'There is a significant amount of evidence that Mr. Freshwater's teachings regarding subjects related to evolution were not consistent with the curriculum of the Mount Vernon City Schools and state standards,' the consultants reported.
Freshwater had been told to stop teaching intelligent design and creationism, but he continued, the report found."
For 11 years parents and other teachers had been complaining about this
teacherproselytizer? And the story only came out when the element of physical abuse was reported?Posted by: Cheryl Shepherd-Adams | June 19, 2008 11:41 PM
Oh, that's just lovely, isn't it? That student was injured, probably scarred for life - physically for sure and possibly emotionally as well - and he's the one who has to hide his name for fear of being retaliated against.
Great. Just freaking great.
Posted by: Elaine | June 20, 2008 12:18 AM
If he did that to my child, the law would be the last thing he'd have to worry about. But he would be able to check on how Jebus feels about it all immeditalely, in person.
Where exactly IS the police chief in all of this?
Posted by: Jack Carver | June 21, 2008 1:55 PM