MOUNT VERNON — Early this morning, a group calling itself the “Minutemen” waited outside the administrative offices of the Mount Vernon City Schools. The group was reportedly protesting the administration’s directive that middle school science teacher John Freshwater remove his personal Bible from his desk.
Freshwater is under investigation for allegedly causing harm to a child during a science experiment, and for allegedly teaching particular religious beliefs in class and denigrating others.
Minutemen spokesman Jeff Cline told the News he feels the issue is not about John Freshwater.
“It is about whether or not other teachers in the district can feel free to place a Bible or other personal items on their desk, ” he said.
In a letter left for Superintendent of Schools Steve Short, Cline and others called for a public statement from Short clarifying the district’s position on the placement of a Bible in a public school classroom.
Short said that although he is willing to listen to a representative of the group, “There will be no public statements by the superintendent or the board of education until such time as the investigation is complete, the board has a chance to review the report, and has the opportunity to speak to legal counsel.”
