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→Discrimination Against Religious Teachers By School Districts
== Discrimination Against Religious Teachers By School Districts ==
== Discrimination Against Religious Teachers By School Districts ==
'''Bruce Bennett vs. Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District'''
Bruce Bennett, a public-school teacher with degrees in Biblical studies and social science, filed a complaint against the Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District in 2004, after being denied the opportunity to teach classes from a Christian perspective, including one critical of evolution <ref>http://www.pat-med.k12.ny.us/continuing/page3.html</ref>. Bennett was denied the opportunity to teach for six years, despite the fact that other courses of a religious (albeit non-Christian) nature were approved. Faced with a potential lawsuit, the district acknowledged that they could not lawfully discriminate against Bennett based on the content of his courses <ref>http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=2796</ref>. As of October, 2004, Bennett was allowed to offer his courses at the community center.
'''John Freshwater vs. OEA'''
John Freshwater is an eighth-grade science teacher from Mt. Vernon, Ohio. In June, 2008, he was fired from his position for refusing to conceal his Christian faith, thereby becoming a figure in the ongoing debate about academic honesty and the religious rights of teachers.
John Freshwater is an eighth-grade science teacher from Mt. Vernon, Ohio. In June, 2008, he was fired from his position for refusing to conceal his Christian faith, thereby becoming a figure in the ongoing debate about academic honesty and the religious rights of teachers.
<ref>http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/04/22/District_letter_4.14.08.pdf</ref>.
<ref>http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/04/22/District_letter_4.14.08.pdf</ref>.
Although Freshwater attempted to comply with the district's ultimatums, his faith compelled him to stand up for his right to keep a personal Bible on his desk. <ref>http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/04/22/Freshwater_Response_4.16.08.pdf</ref> The district disagreed, and fired him. In so doing, they cited accusations that Freshwater had "branded students" with the image of a cross. Freshwater clarified that he was demonstrating the function of an electrostatic device by marking students' arms with an "X," a demonstration that caused no harm to the students in question and is common in science classes. <ref>http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3817</ref>
Although Freshwater attempted to comply with the district's ultimatums, his faith compelled him to stand up for his right to keep a personal Bible on his desk. <ref>http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/04/22/Freshwater_Response_4.16.08.pdf</ref> The district disagreed, and fired him. In so doing, they cited accusations that Freshwater had "branded students" with the image of a cross. Freshwater clarified that he was demonstrating the function of an electrostatic device by marking students' arms with an "X," a demonstration that caused no harm to the students in question and is common in science classes. <ref>http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3817</ref>
==References==
==References==