Recently, a teacher was accused of having burned a cross into the arms of two of his students. The person accused is John Freshwater, an eighth-grade science teacher in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

This is not the only issue. He also suggested teaching evolution as a theory rather than as scientific fact, and told his students that they should not always believe science as a fact. For example, he referred to a study that explained homosexuality as possibly being inscribed in a person’s genes. He referred students to the Bible for further scientific research.

Other teachers complained that they had to re-teach evolutionism because his teachings were not sufficient. He also has several posters of a religious nature, including copies of the 10 Commandments, on the walls of his science classroom, and a Bible on his desk.

He claims that he is being fired because he refused to take the Bible off his desk. He stated that he did not mean to burn a cross into the student’s arms but he merely wanted to leave a permanent X using a “Tesla coil” as a demonstration for a science experiment as he had done several times before.

This is just a great example of how twisted religion can sometimes become. First of all, why would you hire a science teacher who does not think evolution is a fact, but rather wants to teach it as a theory? He would be a much better religion teacher than a science teacher.

The little town is very religious, but even it should know better. The principal, who is responsible for the good education of the children, should be especially cautious when hiring new teachers. When students are in school, they should be given all of the facts in order to make up their own mind. The teacher is not supposed to do that for them.

Aren’t church and school supposed to be separated by law in this country? By having the posters of the “10 Commandments” on his walls and the Bible on his desk, the teacher is clearly violating that. He says that the school only wants to fire him because he refused to remove the Bible from his desk, yet in my eyes this is reason enough since it violates the law. If he refuses to follow, he can get fired. It is as simple as that.

He burned a cross into the arm of at least two students but says it was an X for a scientific experiment, which he has done several 100 times before. Is it supposed to be better that he permanently burned an X into the arms of two students before? Those kids didn’t even know what they were agreeing to when they were asked to volunteer in class.

One of the boys complained to his mom about his teacher burning a cross into his arm. He would not have any reason to complain or tell if it was absolutely voluntary and if he knew what he was getting himself into. And why is there so much debate going on about if it was an X or a cross? Just take a look at the students’ arms.

I am all for freedom of religion and freedom of speech, but as soon as somebody gets hurt you have crossed a line. He had no right to burn a mark into his students’ arms; it does not matter if it was a cross or an X. He was wrong by leaving his Bible and the posters up in his science classroom. He violated a law. Just one of these acts should be enough to get him fired. The school is absolutely within its rights and to me, Mr. Freshwater sounds out of line here.