Report: Ohio teacher should be fired in cross case

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A state hearing officer is recommending that an Ohio school board fire a science teacher accused of burning the image of a cross on students' arms.

John Freshwater has been suspended from a Mount Vernon school without pay.

The school board voted to fire him in 2008, citing an internal investigation that found he had preached his Christian beliefs in class. He also was accused of using a scientific device to mark several students' arms with a cross and keeping a Bible on his desk.

Fired Ohio teachers can appeal to an outside referee, which Freshwater did.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the referee concluded Friday that he should be fired.

Messages left Saturday for Freshwater and his attorney were not immediately returned.

Superintendent Steve Short told the Dispatch that officials were reviewing the report and would not comment until Monday.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com