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Ohio Science Teacher Sues School Board For Religious Discrimination

By Howard M. Friedman

Mt. Vernon, Ohio science teacher, John Freshwater, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city school district's board of education and various school officials, alleging that attempts to fire him were prompted by the fact that he kept his personal Bible on his desk. The 16-count complaint (full text) in Freshwater v. Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education, (SD OH, filed 6/10/2009) was filed just as the June 18-19 administrative hearing on Freshwater's termination approaches. Yesterday's Mount Vernon News reports on the lawsuit filed by the middle school teacher, indicating that he is seeking $500,000 compensatory damages and $500,000 punitive damages.

The Board last year voted to dismiss Freshwater after a report by a consulting firm concluded that he taught creationism or intelligent design in class, told his class that anyone who is gay is a sinner, improperly used an electrostatic device to put a cross on the arm of a student, was excessively involved in the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was insubordinate in failing to remove religious materials when ordered to do so by his principal. (See prior posting.) Freshwater's lawsuit alleges that the Board's action amounted to religious discrimination and a denial of procedural due process. The complaint also alleges a number of other causes of action, including defamation and breach of contract.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 11, 2009 (boomark / email).