MOUNT VERNON — Ellen Button, eighth-grade reading and science teacher at Mount Vernon Middle School, was the sole witness when the contract termination hearing for suspended MVMS teacher John Freshwater resumed Thursday.

Upon questioning by Freshwater’s lawyer Kelly Hamilton, Button talked about lesson plans, state science standards, the scientific method, scientific theory and appropriate supplemental materials.

She also testified she has used a Tesla coil in class in the past, but never applied one to students or to herself. She said she did not recall seeing anyone apply such a high-frequency device to students, but had heard students talking about that happening in other classes. Button said she did find a “very old and tattered” instruction booklet for a Tesla coil and took it to the school office.

Hamilton asked Button her impression of why Freshwater, in 2003, had proposed an “Objective Origins” science policy to the school board. [The proposal suggested the new policy statement was needed to allow “teachers/students to critically examine the evidence both for and against evolution,” specifically Darwinian evolution theory.] Button said it was her understanding that Freshwater wanted to include intelligent design or creationism in the eight-grade science curriculum.

She further testified she had that understanding due to numerous conversations with Freshwater during the process of selecting new science textbooks [to match state standards] and due to conversations she had with various students, particularly one of her daughters who had been in Freshwater’s class.

When asked about Freshwater’s alleged use of the word “here” to indicate lesson material that might be in question, Button said she had not been in Freshwater’s class while he was teaching and had no first-hand knowledge of what he did in the classroom.

Hamilton entered three of the four eighth-grade science textbooks into evidence. He asked Button questions about certain portions of the texts, including those related to Ptolemy’s theory, geologic times, radiometric and carbon dating and the periodic table of elements.

When asked how she would respond to students’ questions related to the scientific method and their personal beliefs, Button said she would refer them to their parents, telling the students also, “This is a science class and we’re dealing with scientific information.”

Hamilton also asked Button whether it was possible her daughter had misinterpreted or misunderstood Freshwater’s intent when using certain handouts in class (Dragon History, Dinosaur Fossils — Age-old Debate, and Dinosaur Extinction — Compelling New Theory). Button said it was possible, but on cross examination by school board attorney David Millstone added that “it was possible, but highly unlikely.”

Also under cross examination, Button testified Freshwater had occasionally given her documents that had a “religious flavor,” and said she was concerned that some of those documents included religious ideas combined with, or in some cases in place of, science.

Upon redirect, Hamilton asked Button if Freshwater had concerns about the textbooks adopted by the school board. Button said yes, and pointed out a number of pages that Freshwater found problematic during the selection process.

Millstone then produced one of the textbooks in question. It contained comments on a number of pages, allegedly written by Freshwater.

No details were discussed at that time, and the hearing was adjourned until 11 a.m. today.