Should he be allowed to keep the Bible on his desk?

Apparently, it's just sitting there. He's not teaching from it.

A Mount Vernon science teacher said yesterday that he will refuse to remove a Bible from his classroom desk, despite his school district's order.

"Thousands of citizens in this community have built their lives on deeply held religious convictions, and it is for them that I stand today," John Freshwater, 51, who teaches at Mount Vernon Middle School, said in a news release.

The religious activist Dave Daubenmire, Freshwater's friend, acted as his spokesman yesterday. "This is not a religion issue; this is a free-speech issue," Daubenmire said. "He didn't take the Bible to read to anybody."

Mount Vernon Superintendent Steve Short said Freshwater's characterization of the events leading to the district order that he remove religious items from his classroom was "not entirely accurate," but Short wouldn't elaborate.

The district later released a one-paragraph statement saying that district officials don't oppose religion but are required "under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to protect against the establishment of religion in the schools. As a public school system the district cannot teach, promote or favor any religion or religious beliefs."

Freshwater and Daubenmire believe that separation of church and state "is a fraud" and that the framers of the Constitution never intended it to be practiced the way it is today, Daubenmire said.

The district asked Freshwater last week to remove the Ten Commandments from the door to his classroom and remove the Bible from the view of students. About 3,900 students attend Mount Vernon schools. Mount Vernon is about 52 miles northeast of Columbus.

Freshwater took down the Ten Commandments but decided that being prevented from taking a Bible into the classroom was going too far.

In the past, Freshwater has taught his students about the "holes in evolution" and intelligent design, the theory that a supernatural power created complex forms of life, Daubenmire said.

"Would our government ask a follower of Islam to remove her burqa in order to teach school?" Freshwater said in his written statement. "Would we ask a science teacher to remove The Origin of Species from his desk merely because the origin of man has never been proven?

"I cannot with a clear conscience follow a directive that makes religion and the religious viewpoint any less credible by those who deem themselves more enlightened."

Freshwater wouldn't answer questions directly because of the likelihood he will file a lawsuit charging "viewpoint discrimination," Daubenmire said.

Daubenmire is the former London High School football coach whose district was sued in 1999 by the American Civil Liberties Union because he led his players in prayer at games, practices and meetings. The district settled out of court, and its insurance company paid the ACLU $18,000 for court costs.

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for a minute, stretch, breathe deeply, and get a Red Bull (energy drink) from the fridge. Works like a charm for me. I'm exactly in your shoes and I've tried lots of things, but Red Bull and movement work the best for me. Good luck!

I just got off a quick break and decided to watch this video that I was told would floor me. It certainly did. I knew our political system was corrupt, but I honesly had no idea "they" were this blatant about it.

This is well worth the several minutes or so it takes to watch. I didn't post this under either political board, because it transcends both the conservative and liberal spectrums. Maybe this should go under the prayer request board now that I think of it.

If it's happening there, it's happening everywhere. These "voices of the people" totally need a good smackin.

Just click on the link hopefully shown below. If it doesn't work, cut and paste this into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

I have one on my desk, but it usually only has sugar-free gum in it. Boring I know, but I hate it when my kids get cavities and since they raid my dish all the time, I have to take precautions.

I also don't want to tempt myself all day long with sugar. Sometimes I get sugar-free Werther's candy or sugar-free lemonade candy but those bags are so tiny they don't last long.

Pit bulls are either not allowed in Miami-Dade County in Florida but I heard something about having $600,000 insurance if you own one.....but that COULD be Broward County where they are allowed. I'm in Miami.

to go to someone who has something against you and make it right? It doesn't just say that if YOU did something wrong, make it right but that if there is something you can do, you should do it. I bring this up because you thank the Lord for your many blessings, and he is the one who wrote that book called the Bible, so that is His opinion on your situation, in case you are wondering.

I am shocked that, concerning your son dying, you turned the statement around and said what if something happened to you? You are missing every point anyone tries to make. That must because you know you are right. Well, people who are convinced they are right, sometimes find out later that they were not. But then it is often too late. It will be interesting to see your response. I'm sure it will again state how wonderful your life is and how you have done nothing wrong.

March 14, 2007� Dozens packed the Belmont (California) city council chambers tonight for the first public airing of a new smoking ban proposal.

The law would give Belmont the toughest smoking ban in the nation � possibly in the world.

The crackdown aims to curb the harmful effects of second-hand smoke by preventing puffs not just in parks and around public buildings � but in private apartments and city streets as well. If the law passes, the only places left in Belmont to smoke would be single family homes and private cars.

Mayor Coralin Feierbach says the proposal was made to protect residents who suffer from health problems aggravated by smoke.The council didn't take action tonight. It's just the first of several meetings to discuss the proposal.