Dozens of students in a Cherokee County high school demonstrated Tuesday in support of an outspoken teacher they say is being treated unfairly by the school for his strong Christian beliefs.
Sequoyah High School teacher John A. Osborne told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he was wrongly accused by a parent of recently telling some students “if they smoke marijuana, they’re going to hell.” Osborne does not believe he has been allowed to properly defend himself, saying he had not talked to the parent who made the accusation.
Osborne said he broke down in one class on Friday and has not been back to class since. Cherokee school officials said Osborne told them he would be taking leave this week. No disciplinary action has been taken against him.
Some Osborne supporters posted messages on social media that Osborne had been fired. Osborne has not been dismissed.
No administrative disciplinary action has been taken against students for their participation in Tuesday’s protest, but some students were disciplined by their teachers upon returning to class for tardiness, district officials said in a statement. A district official declined to answer questions about the situation.
Osborne said he didn’t know much about Tuesday’s protest.
“I love my kids,” he said, adding he would be disappointed if the demonstration was not peaceful.
Osborne came to Sequoyah 13 years ago and teaches world history. He said he’s had disputes in the past with administrators about his religious classroom discussions.
“I talk a lot about religion because it’s world history,” Osborne said.
Osborne said he discusses other religions in his classes.
Osborne said ongoing disputes with administrators over his discussion of religion in the classroom have worn on him, and that he and the principal have been in discussions about Osborne leaving the school by Christmas.
“I want to (finish by then), but I don’t think I can,” he said.
About the Author
