Missing the Point... brand... whatevah

This article i read was probably one of the worst written pieces of journalism i've seen in awhile. Either the publication or the writer seemed to focus on all the wrong things, in my humble opinion.
"Demonstrations on the town square show how divided people are over the school board's decision to fire a science teacher accused of preaching his Christian beliefs in the classroom and burning crosses on students' arms. "
While my liberal self would certainly object to a teacher preaching one religion over others in a classroom, i think the whole fucking BURNING CROSSES ON KIDS ARMS kinda makes the teaching thing a distasteful footnote. But in reading the article, the scarification and mutilation of children is barely mentioned while the issue of religious rights takes the main stage. WTF?

"John Freshwater, 52, was fired last month after an outside consulting firm released a report concluding that he taught creationism and was insubordinate in failing to remove a Bible and other religious materials from his classroom at Mount Vernon Middle School.
Some residents consider him a courageous fighter for religious freedom. Others say he has brazenly violated the church-state divide."

The article goes on to talk about a community divided over teaching religion in schools, blah, blah, blah. Uh, where the hell (no pun intended) is the protest about a teacher BRANDING students?

"A much-viewed sign about a mile from town reads: "If the Bible goes, the school board should follow."

Again... WTF? I think the town has its priorities a little screwed up.

"Freshwater likely will be suspended without pay during the appeals process, which could extend into the fall, said David Millstone, the school board's attorney."

He's been suspended. He's not in jail for god's sake? (again no pun intended)

"Officials knew that Freshwater used a science tool to burn images of a cross on students' arms in December, according to findings by outside investigators.
"I think things were just overlooked and overlooked and overlooked and then it just came to a head," said Kelly Montgomery.
...Freshwater told investigators he simply was trying to demonstrate the device on three to eight students and described the images an "X" not a cross. But pictures show the images depict a cross, the report said. "

There are so many things wrong with that last statement and I find it difficult to believe that it was left as mere mention by the reported and didn't incur outrage in the community. Would they have been just as blaise if he had decided to test acid on their skin, or demonstrated the different applications of surgical scapels? What kinda dumbass excuse was that and what kind of dumbasses let it go at that?

The brilliant wrapup to this article:
"When teachers have a contract, they have to follow the state guidelines, and he deliberately went against the guidelines," said Winkle, 57, as she sipped coffee at a cafe near the public square."

Ugh. Just ugh. If you want to read the stupid ass excuse for reporting yourself, go here:
Article