Bible thumping teacher sues school district for a cool million

June 10, 12:26 PMPortland Humanist ExaminerMicha J. Stone

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A Bible thumping Ohio school teacher, fired because he preached Christianity in science class, is suing the school district for a cool $1 million. In his lawsuit John Freshwater claims that his free speech and civil rights were violated. Freshwater, an eighth-grade teacher in Mount Vernon, northeast of Columbus, claims he was harassed because of his religion, was defamed and suffered a hostile work environment.

The Mount Vernon school board created a work situation that allowed Freshwater "to be harassed by both administrators and co-workers on account of his religion," according to the lawsuit against the board and school administrators filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Columbus. The suit claims that Freshwater was discriminated against because of personal religious beliefs and maintains the board took action to terminate Freshwater’s teaching contract simply because he kept a Bible on his desk.

Freshwater was suspended and subsequently fired by the school board in 2008 for alleged professional misconduct. In addition, it is alleged Freshwater caused physical harm to a student during a science experiment, overstepped his bounds as a monitor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, promoted particular religious beliefs in the classroom while denigrating others and was insubordinate in refusing to follow directives from school administrators.

From all reports it seems clear that Freshwater's case is frivolous. In addition it seems clear that he does not belong in a public school setting. There are few things more obnoxious or alarming than preaching Christianity, or any religion, to public school children. To add insult to injury, the man hawking the superstitious garbage was supposed to be the science teacher.

One can only hope that the lawsuit is thrown out and that Freshwater is never allowed to step foot in a public school again. The fact that he was so brazen is his proselytizing should raise a red flag to all concerned citizens. The religious right is out of control; they are coming for your children. We must, as a secular society, prevent the abuse of our children by the cult of the religious right.