MOUNT VERNON — Hundreds of students, joined by some parents and community members, gathered at the Spirit Rock outside of Mount Vernon High School in a show of support for middle school teacher John Freshwater.
Freshwater complied with requests from the school administration to take down a display of the Ten Commandments, but refuses to remove a Bible from his desk at school. Freshwater said the administration’s order is a violation of his First Amendment rights. The Bible is a source of personal inspiration to him, Freshwater said, and helps him get through the day.
Twenty sheets of paper with lines for 48 signatures each were being signed by the students, some from the high school and some from the middle school. The petition read: “By signing this petition I am showing my support for Mr. John Freshwater and his stance for displaying his Bible. He had all rights to do so, and we stand by his side.”
Numerous students were wearing custom- or handmade shirts expressing their support of Freshwater. Earlier in the day, many students brought Bibles to school, exercising their own right of freedom of expression. Cars driving past the rally honked their horns in a further show of support.
Eighteen-year-old Caleb McCoy, one of the student organizers of the afterschool rally, said he had no idea the display of support would get so big. He explained the reason for the students’ actions.
“We are bothered by the fact that Freshwater’s reputation and his job is on the line for standing up for what he believes in. He has never forced his beliefs on us and has been a personal role model for myself. He is a great man and we stand by him. ... It’s in our First Amendment rights — we have the right to assemble, which we did, and the freedom to petition. We are expressing our love for the Constitution and our love for Mr. Freshwater.”
Former student Stephanie Smith, and her mother, Barbara Smith, were at the rally, holding signs in support of Freshwater. Barbara said she was there because she has children in the school system.
“If he was doing something wrong I could understand it. He’s not doing anything wrong,” she said. “They have taken everything away out of the schools. ... When I was in school, we prayed in the morning. Now, they don’t. That’s what’s wrong with the schools today. The discipline has gotten so out of control. The kids have gotten so out of control. They’ve taken everything [the values] out.”
Many of the students said they agreed with Smith.
McCoy said he did not understand why the presence of a Bible on a teacher’s desk is such a big deal.
“I’m sure many people have their problems with it,” he said, “but, why now? He’s had it for 20-some years. ... It’s his God-given right. Under the Constitution he’s allowed to do so. ... We just love Mr. Freshwater and everything he has ever done for the students. He has been such a good role model and a real light in the community. We’re just trying to give back to him what we can.”
McCoy and a handful of other students will be making the petition available for more signatures over the weekend. When all the sheets are compiled, McCoy will present them to the Mount Vernon Board of Education.
Parents who talked with the News after the petition-signing said they were proud of their children.
“This was awesome. People should stand up for what they believe in,” one parent said.
