Folks in middle America seem obsessed with making (1) everything illegal and (2) treating teenage pranks like crimes against humanity.

The instruments of mass destruction are teenagers’ cellphones. The crime: sending and/or possessing nude photos of female classmates. In both cases, the girls in the photographs sent the photos to their classmates.

In Ohio, authorities have charged one girl with two felonies, and may require her to be listed as sex offender. In Michigan, no charges have been filed, but law enforcement officials have warned students that face possession of pornography charges if they keep the nude photo on their phones.

The Ohio teen’s alleged offense and subsequent arrest occurred just days after representatives from the Licking County prosecutors office visited local high schools and told students about the illegality of sending pornographic pictures with their cell phones.

Apparently, adolescent psych classes are not part of lawyers’ training. Telling a teenager not to do something is little like talking to a tree.

This case was the latest in a veritable epidemic — 20 — of similar incidents in Licking County, near Columbus. Adults there have been appalled at the graphic images and text on teenagers’ cell phones, so the prosecutors felt it their mission to try to put a stop to this electronic scourge.

The lightning rod in this case is a 15-year-old at Licking Valley High School in Newark, Ohio (that’s new-ark — two words — for those of you from Jersey). She was arrested after school officials discovered the photos on students’ cell phones.

October 19th, 2008 | Tags: felony, nude photos, ohio, teenager | Category: Civil liberties, Random rants, Schools | Comments (2)

Meanwhile, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, a group calling itself the “Minutemen” is pushing the local school board to explain why a 7th grade science teacher cannot keep a Bible on his desk, or it will “recall” school board members.

School officials say the matter is still under consideration.

The teacher in question is John Freshwater, a popular but controversial teacher, who has refused his superiors’ demands that he remove his Bible from students’ view. Freshwater is also under investigation for allegedly burning a cross on a student’s arm, for disseminating religious literature during class, and for proselytizing students.

The Minutemen are undoubtedly affiliated with another Christian nutcase up there, “Coach” Dave Daubenmire, who quickly came to Freshwater’s support after the Bible incident. Daubenmire supports a rightwing Christian group, the Minutemen Unlimited.

In a letter to school officials, the Mount Vernon Minutemen say they will replace the school board if the school system does not announce its supports the Bible.

“Although we do not want this to be taken as a threat, we feel it is only right that we inform you that if a public statement is not made in support of the Bible by June 10 we will have no other choice than to begin a recall procedure on all members of the School Board who voted to ban the Bible from the view of the children.”

June 2nd, 2008 | Tags: Bible, john freshwater, Minutemen, mount vernon, ohio, school | Category: Civil liberties, Commentary, Schools, religion | Leave a comment

Sometimes you’ve got to wonder if any Christianists have any critical thinking abilities.

Well, nevermind, I know the answer to the question already, but here’s yet more evidence that fundies “just don’t get it.”

The scene is Mount Vernon (Ohio) Middle School, where seventh-grade science teacher and Christianist John Freshwater stands accused of, among other things, proselytizing his students, burning a cross in a student’s skin, and teaching creationism against district policies. His district is investigating the charges.

It seems that some students (and parents, I’ll betcha) assume that if you’re not for Freshwater, you’re not a Christian. Or worse yet, if you’re not Christian, you can’t support him. Witness these quotes from the local newspaper:

Several comments from students and parents indicate that acceptance and religious tolerance is a one-way street for many concerned.

Beth Murdoch, whose daughter attends the middle school, is one of the parents who has expressed concerns about the sometimes hostile environment at the middle school.

“You’re either for Mr. Freshwater or you’re against Mr. Freshwater. There’s no in between,” Murdoch said. “In the kids’ minds, I think, it is just the Bible issue. And who is going to go against the Bible? Nobody. But it seems like the ‘Christians’ are using that as an excuse to gang up on the ‘atheists.’

May 7th, 2008 | Tags: Bible, intolerance, john freshwater, mount vernon, ohio | Category: Civil liberties, Commentary, Schools, Science, religion, teaching | Leave a comment