Ohio: Teacher defies district, keeps Bible in classroom
The Columbus Dispatch reports:
A Mount Vernon science teacher said yesterday that he will refuse to remove a Bible from his classroom desk despite his school district’s order.
“Thousands of citizens in this community have built their lives on deeply held religious convictions, and it is for them that I stand today,” John Freshwater, 51, who teaches at Mount Vernon Middle School, said in a news release . . .
The district later released a one-paragraph statement saying that district officials don’t oppose religion but are required “under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to protect against the establishment of religion in the schools. As a public school system the district cannot teach, promote or favor any religion or religious beliefs.” . . .
2 Comments
Good for John Freshwater. In the USA he has the freedom to be a Christian and keep a Bible on his desk to read or refer to during his personel time. I think there are things he can even teach in Ohio about the Bible and the Christian faith. I believe the First Amendment actually defends Mr. Freshwater from this misguided censorship from the school officials. There can be no laws making him or any teacher have a Bible on their desk, and there can be no laws prohibiting it. It’s as simple as that. Try reading it.
Mr. Freshwater, way to go, continue to keep God First and everything else will fall into place. I haven’t ever heard of the First Amendment keeping religion and school apart. You have to remember that churches was where schooling actually started. Our forefathers, wrote the Bill Rights as they saw it being needed in our system. I say to you sir, keep your Bible on your desk, it maybe needed later..