Tag: Ohio - Page 8 - Secular Left

March 4, 2013

Freshwater Attempts To Use Appeal To Reopen Creationism Debate

screencap of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer during oral arguments

Last Wednesday, John Freshwater, the Mount Vernon middle school teacher fired for proselytizing to his science classes then refusing to stop doing it when he was warned, had his appeal heard before the Ohio Supreme Court. His lawyer attempted to use a routine employment appeal to reopen the debate on teaching creationism in the public schools. Although rulings aren’t signaled based on the questioning during the hearing, it was clear the school attorney, David Smith, got the aggressive part of the questioning.

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February 22, 2013

Ohio Supreme Court To Hear Proselytizing Teacher Case On Wednesday

Proselytizing Ohio teacher John Freshwater

The saga of proselytizing teacher and accused child abuser John Freshwater from Mount Vernon Ohio will get another hearing by the Ohio State Supreme Court on Wednesday February 27th. He is appealing his termination from the Mount Vernon school district after many warnings, accusations of child abuse, and a lengthy investigation and school board hearing. Freshwater previously lost in the court of appeals and in Federal court.

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July 6, 2012

Ohio Teacher Fired For Proselytizing To Get Hearing In Ohio Supreme Court

Proselytizing Ohio teacher John Freshwater

John Freshwater, the Mount Vernon Ohio public school science teacher who was fired for proselytizing to his students will get a hearing on an appeal in the Ohio Supreme Court. I’ve been following this story since Freshwater burned his first cross in a student in 2008. He has lost in every court yet this case will not go away.

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June 7, 2012

Ohio Senator Portman Wants To Force Prayer On World War II Memorial

Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)

On June 6th, the 68th anniversary of the D-Day invasion during World War II, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) spoke on the floor of the Senate to ask for passage of the World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2012 which calls for a plaque, to be installed on the National World War II Memorial, inscribed with a prayer President Roosevelt spoke when announcing the operation over the radio in 1944. Although tax payer money won’t be used for the making of the plaque, it still will be on a national memorial on public land that is suppose to honor all soldiers who fought in the war. Portman’s bill is as misguided as someone putting the 10 Commandments up in a court house.

Here is the text of the bill that was introduced on May 10th:

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May 30, 2012

In Defense Of City Council Meeting Prayers, Council President Says He Swore To God As Part Of His Office

screencap of Council President Bruce Hawkins

There is yet another dust up about a city council saying Christian prayers before meetings. Mount Vernon Ohio City Council previously held prayers at the beginning of their meetings then a resident sent a letter of complaint. Once the other people in town heard, then they complained about ending a “tradition”. Add to that mess is the comments the city council president made in a story on a local TV station – that he pledged an oath to God so he sees no problem with having the prayers during the meetings. He’s wrong of course.

Resident Ryan Kitko sent a letter of complaint to the council. He claimed – factually – that Christian prayers at the meeting slighted those who weren’t Christian or who had no religious beliefs.

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January 16, 2012

Ohio State Senators Returning Teddy Bears Used In Anti-Abortion Stunt

Last week I posted about the publicity stunt anti-abortion group Faith2Action pulled at the state house. Surrounded by children some state senators were given Teddy Bears that made a heartbeat sound to try and convince them to pass HB 125. The ‘heartbeat’ bill would prohibit any abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected. Now it seems senators are giving back the toys because they cost more than $25 and would have to be reported on financial-disclosure forms.

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