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== 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 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, including courses on Tarot reading and ancient Egyptian magic<ref>http://www.pat-med.k12.ny.us/continuing/page10.html</ref>.  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.   

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, including courses on Tarot reading and ancient Egyptian magic<ref>http://www.pat-med.k12.ny.us/continuing/page10.html</ref>.  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 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.