John Freshwater’s attorney Rita Dunaway has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the firing of Freshwater from his job at Mount Vernon City Schools.
The petition presents two key questions to the court:
“Whether firing a public school teacher for checking out and possessing school library books as a form of passive protest violates the First Amendment.
“Whether firing a public school teacher for teaching the scientific strengths and weaknesses of biological evolution violates the First Amendment.”
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| Freshwater had two library books in his classroom: The Oxford Bible and "Jesus of Nazareth." |
The Ohio Supreme Court earlier upheld the firing in a 4-3 vote.
Six out of the seven judges did agree that it was unconstitutional for the school to order the removal of Freshwater’s personal Bible.
Six out of the seven judges did agree that it was unconstitutional for the school to order the removal of Freshwater’s personal Bible.
The only reasons the court gave for upholding the firing were that Freshwater had two library books in his classroom and that he had a poster of George W. Bush.
The court sidestepped the issue of how Freshwater handled the subject of evolution.
AccountabilityInTheMedia.com is awaiting a response from the school.
Related document
(PDF) Petition to U.S. Supreme Court to review Freshwater v. Mt. Vernon City School Dist. Bd. Of Edn.
Previous coverage
Editorial: Ohio Supreme Court decision shirks sworn duties
Video: Ohio Supreme Court hears Freshwater case
See the articles in the archive for additional coverage of the Freshwater controversy.
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