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Teacher sued over religious ‘branding’
The parents of a Mount Vernon boy who says his science teacher branded a
cross on his arm have sued the teacher and the school board… In addition
to the branding incident, Freshwater is accused of teaching the theory of
intelligent design to his eighth-grade science class even though the
district ordered him not to in 2003, the lawsuit says.
“Mr. Freshwater advised his students that although he is forced to teach
from the textbooks, the teachings are wrong or not proven according to the
Bible,” the suit states.
School administrators knew that Freshwater disregarded their instructions,
but they allowed him to continue teaching and never disciplined him even
after the branding, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District
Court in Columbus. The suit did not identify the student or his parents…
On April 18, shortly after Freshwater made the debate public, Freshwater
told his students they could earn extra credit in his class if they watched
the film *Expelled,* which mocks the theory of evolution. The assignment
directed students to “explain why it is important to examine this
objectively and not let bias affect your observations.”
Millstone said the school board and administration tried to keep Freshwater
from discussing his religious beliefs in class.
“They told him he was to teach — not preach,” Millstone said.