tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2538419547722009032024-03-05T04:16:48.799-05:00Accountability in the MediaSam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-47830560910899350822014-10-12T18:25:00.000-04:002014-10-12T18:25:37.866-04:00Times Reporter: Dover man touts free speech, religious rights, academic freedoms
Would the Freshwaters do it over again?Yes.Few people could have imagined John Freshwater, the guy they once sat next to in church or while cheering on the Dover Tornadoes, would find himself at the center of a controversy that dealt with free speech, religious rights and academic freedoms.Read more: “Dover man touts free speech, religious rights, academic freedoms” by Meghan Millea, Times Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-24174837131019696952014-10-10T19:42:00.000-04:002014-10-10T19:54:17.975-04:00Dispatch editorial is a disgraceThis is a response to The Columbus Dispatch editorial of October 9, 2014, titled "Court affirms teacher was unacceptably insubordinate."
The Dispatch claims that the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a "silent ruling" on Freshwater v. Mt. Vernon City School Dist. Bd. Of Edn. putting its "weight" behind the majority opinion of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Nothing could be further from the truth (exceptSam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-59415937267405040872014-10-09T05:44:00.001-04:002014-10-09T05:54:33.839-04:00Supreme Court denies appeal in Freshwater case
On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court denied John Freshwater's petition for certiorari. The unsigned order does not provide explanation or comment.
"I am extremely disappointed," Freshwater's attorney Rita Dunaway told AccountabilityInTheMedia.com, "that the injustice done to Mr. Freshwater has been left standing. It is important, however, for people to understand that the High Court’s denial of Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-15543923023866427242014-08-22T20:20:00.000-04:002014-10-09T05:48:24.222-04:00‘Thoughtful legal analysis’: Q&A with school board’s attorney“Strong defense of lawsuits filed against boards of education is achieved,” according to the philosophy statement on the website of Britton Smith Peters & Kalail, “through thoughtful legal analysis, vigorous advocacy, and effective courtroom skills.”
The “Smith” of Britton Smith Peters & Kalail is attorney David Kane Smith. He is representing the Mount Vernon Board of Education in the Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-66913688115606735752014-05-02T01:44:00.000-04:002014-05-02T02:28:08.819-04:00Freshwater appeals to U.S. Supreme Court
John Freshwater’s attorney Rita Dunaway has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the firing of Freshwater from his job at Mount Vernon City Schools.
The petition presents two key questions to the court:
“Whether firing a public school teacher for checking out and possessing school library books as a form of passive protest violates the First Amendment.
“Whether firing a public school Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-8395165345127489042013-11-26T17:04:00.000-05:002014-04-30T05:35:44.961-04:00Press release: Rutherford Institute asks Ohio Supreme Court to reconsider ruling, focus on academic freedom issue in case of Christian teacher fired over evolutionThe following press release was provided by The Rutherford Institute:
COLUMBUS, Ohio— Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have filed a motion in Freshwater v. Mt. Vernon City School Dist. Bd. Of Edn. asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reconsider its recent ruling upholding a school district’s decision to terminate a middle school science teacher who encouraged students to think critically aboutSam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-21670819809316533912013-11-26T04:11:00.000-05:002013-11-26T04:11:42.244-05:00Editorial: Ohio Supreme Court decision shirks sworn dutiesIn a 4-3 vote the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the firing of John Freshwater. Apparently black robes are good for hiding yellow streaks. Dissenting Justice Paul E. Pfeifer wrote, “In a case bounding with arrogance and cowardice, the lead opinion fits right in.”It is the sworn duty of the justices to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Ohio. That duty is not Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-36561710881334299942013-11-19T17:18:00.000-05:002013-11-19T17:18:15.555-05:00Press release: Ohio Supreme Court affirms science teacher’s right to keep personal Bible on desk, sidesteps issue of academic freedom in firing over evolution lessons
The following press release was provided by The Rutherford Institute:
COLUMBUS, Ohio—In a mixed ruling that affirms the First Amendment right of a public school teacher to keep a personal Bible on his desk, while sidestepping larger questions of academic freedom, the Ohio Supreme Court has upheld a school district’s decision to terminate a middle school science teacher who encouraged students Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-56538985126982969032013-09-24T06:52:00.000-04:002013-11-06T04:35:48.352-05:00Meet the school board candidates Oct 1There will be an opportunity to meet the candidates for the Mount Vernon Board of Education on October 1 at the Mount Vernon High School Theater at 6:30 p.m.
This event is sponsored by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees and the Mount Vernon Education Association.
For more information, see the KnoxPages article “Candidates night slated for Mount Vernon school board hopefuls.”
The Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-88274225212672917832013-06-28T21:51:00.000-04:002013-06-28T21:52:24.647-04:00Podcast: TRI attorney discusses Freshwater caseThe following is from a June 24, 2013 post by IDTheFuture.com:
“On this episode of ID The Future, listen in as Joshua Youngkin and attorney Rita Dunaway of The Rutherford Institute discuss the academic freedom case of John Freshwater, an Ohio middle school science teacher of 24 years. Freshwater was fired after it was revealed that he was teaching both the strengths and weaknesses of Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-2051439764278740522013-02-27T18:10:00.000-05:002013-05-05T06:23:38.028-04:00Ohio Supreme Court hears Freshwater caseThe Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday regarding John Freshwater’s claim that he was wrongfully terminated from his job teaching at Mount Vernon City Schools.
(“Case No. 2012-0613 John Freshwater v. Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education”)
Additional information
“Document dump: School board and cohorts file briefs in Freshwater case”
“Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-7674043340924939552013-02-27T02:03:00.000-05:002013-02-27T08:51:18.396-05:00Press release: Rutherford Institute defends academic freedom of teacher fired for urging students to think critically about evolution
The following press release was provided by The Rutherford Institute:
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—In oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday, February 27, The Rutherford Institute will defend the right to academic freedom of a science teacher fired for encouraging students to think critically about the school’s science curriculum, particularly as it relates to evolution theories. In Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-3060715449419434272013-01-18T09:53:00.000-05:002013-01-18T10:05:29.696-05:00A thank-you to readers
Four years ago AccountabilityInTheMedia.com was launched to respond to inaccuracies in the media’s coverage of the John Freshwater and Mount Vernon Board of Education controversy.
During the intervening years, I’ve striven to provide alternative news coverage of the ongoing story.
To all of my readers, thank you for your interest in this project.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-55404842057724290872013-01-16T19:58:00.000-05:002013-01-16T20:10:47.165-05:00MVCS superintendent to retire in June
During Monday’s meeting, the Mount Vernon Board of Education approved the retirement of Steve Short, superintendent of schools, effective June 30, 2013.
In a Jan. 11 letter to the board, Short cited changes in the state retirement system as influencing his decision to retire this year:
Dear Members of the Board of Education,
This is a community that is special to me. We have great staffs, Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-86030509468370470192012-11-29T21:44:00.000-05:002012-11-29T21:44:22.276-05:00Ohio Supreme Court denies school board motion
The Mount Vernon Board of Education lost a last-ditch effort
to keep significant portions of John Freshwater’s appeal from being heard by
the Ohio Supreme Court.
The court on Wednesday denied the board’s “motion to strike propositions of law 1 & 2, appendix pages 49 & 55-56,
and supplement pages 103-116 from [Freshwater’s] merit brief.”
The decision by the court means that all of Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-51028473114766423492012-10-24T18:09:00.000-04:002013-12-11T06:35:22.205-05:00Freshwater responds to school board’s arguments
John Freshwater, through his attorney R. Kelly Hamilton,
filed his reply brief with the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday. The brief is the
final step before oral arguments are presented in February 2013 regarding
Freshwater’s claim that he was wrongfully terminated from his job teaching at
Mount Vernon City Schools.
(See here for a copy of the brief.)
The Mount Vernon Board of Education Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-82888297130679257322012-10-23T20:30:00.000-04:002012-10-23T20:30:06.466-04:00Press release: Rutherford attorneys file final brief with the Ohio Supreme Court in case of teacher fired for urging students to think critically about evolution
The following press release was provided today by The Rutherford Institute:
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—Attorneys for the Rutherford Institute have filed a final reply brief in the case of science teacher John Freshwater, which arose after the Mount Vernon City School District’s Board of Education terminated his employment in January 2011. The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to The Rutherford Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-22370521121521468372012-10-17T21:21:00.001-04:002012-10-24T17:24:36.671-04:00Was the 2012 MV school board oath legal?
When the Mount Vernon Board of Education met for its
organizational meeting in January 2012, it was missing something very important:
A copy of the oath of office.
As even Chief Justice John Roberts could tell you, it’s
probably better to have a copy of the oath in front of you than to try to wing
it.
Nonetheless, Superintendent Steve Short decided to wing it.
Or, as he put it, “We’re Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-55405979008896409332012-10-15T20:28:00.000-04:002012-10-15T20:28:22.589-04:00Ohio Supreme Court schedules oral argument for Freshwater case
The Ohio Supreme Court announced today that oral argument for John Freshwater v. Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education
has been scheduled for February 27, 2013.
According to court rules, both sides will each have 15
minutes for “argument on the merits.”
Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-25070969770143091682012-10-08T19:27:00.000-04:002013-12-11T05:15:19.150-05:00Document dump: School board and cohorts file briefs in Freshwater case
The John Freshwater case received an influx of new paperwork
on Thursday as the Mount Vernon Board of Education and its cohorts submitted
their briefs to the Ohio Supreme Court just in time to meet the extended
deadline.
Joining the school board were the American Humanist
Association, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the
Anti-Defamation League, the Secular Student Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-5770914967677327862012-09-27T21:32:00.000-04:002012-09-27T21:40:33.949-04:00Press release: School officials ask Ohio Supreme Court to strike First Amendment from Freshwater lawsuit, reject science teacher’s right to academic freedom
The following press release was provided Tuesday by The Rutherford Institute:
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—Attorneys for the Mount Vernon City School District have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to strike portions of public school teacher John Freshwater’s appeal briefing, including the text of the First Amendment. This technical motion is the School Board’s latest effort to counter an argument Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-76941442260019840642012-09-25T08:28:00.000-04:002012-09-25T08:28:41.960-04:00School attorneys argue for going back to the Bible
The controversy at the Mount Vernon City Schools began with the Bible, and it may soon get back to being about the Bible.
At least if attorneys for the Mount Vernon Board of Education get their way.
On Monday, school board attorneys David Kane Smith, Krista Keim and Paul J. Deegan motioned for the Ohio Supreme Court to strike from John Freshwater’s appeal all of the “Propositions of Law” Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-34141702640008502312012-09-13T09:58:00.000-04:002012-09-24T19:18:24.970-04:00MV school board attorneys ask court for more time to respond to Freshwater’s brief
The Mount Vernon Board of Education’s attorneys are requesting that the Ohio Supreme Court allow them additional time to respond to John Freshwater’s recently filed merit brief.
The attorneys want an extension of ten days, giving them until October 4 to respond to Freshwater’s claim that he was wrongfully terminated from his job teaching at Mount Vernon City Schools.
Although there are Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-13491052911026985492012-09-07T17:19:00.000-04:002012-09-07T17:19:47.545-04:00Press release: Rutherford Institute asks Ohio Supreme Court to affirm right of science teacher to urge students to think critically about evolution
The following press release was provided Wednesday by The Rutherford Institute:
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio—In filing a merits brief with the Ohio Supreme Court in Freshwater v. Mount Vernon, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have asked the Court to hold that the Mount Vernon City School District violated the academic freedom rights of teacher John Freshwater and his students by firing Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253841954772200903.post-90194812286673597862012-08-28T21:36:00.000-04:002012-08-29T17:13:28.585-04:00Freshwater files brief with Ohio Supreme Court
John Freshwater, through his attorneys, filed a merit brief with the Ohio Supreme Court on Friday. The brief presents the basis for his claim that he was wrongfully terminated from his job teaching at Mount Vernon City Schools.
(See here for a copy of the brief.)
In firing Freshwater, the Mount Vernon Board of Education took the position that a public school teacher could not present evidence Sam Stickle (mountvernon1805)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12811421412092476907noreply@blogger.com0