Tuesday, November 19, 2013
COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court says a public school district was legally justified in firing a science teacher who refused orders to remove classroom displays of religious materials.
With three justices dissenting, the court ruled today that the Mount Vernon district had grounds to fire John Freshwater for insubordination for keeping religious books and a poster of a president praying.
The court’s lead opinion says the district infringed on Freshwater’s First Amendment rights by ordering the removal of his personal Bible but found he was insubordinate for keeping other items.
The court didn’t address whether Freshwater unconstitutionally taught his religious beliefs.
Freshwater’s attorney said she was disappointed but couldn’t comment further because she hadn’t discussed the decision with Freshwater.