If you thought you’ve seen it all, here is something that might mass you up.

Mount Vernon City school members unanimously voted on Friday to fire an eight-grade science teacher for allegedly teaching his Christian beliefs in science classes and, more than this, for using a device to “brand” several students with crosses on their arms.

The vote (5-0) followed an investigation conducted on behalf of the school district, which concluded that John Freshwater used a high -frequency generator – a Tesla coil - to burn the religious symbol onto the arms of several students last December, the local newspaper Columbus Dispatch reported. The report does not say the exact number of students who participated in the teacher’s “experiment.”

One of the student’s parents sued Freshwater and the school immediately after the incident saying the teacher violated their son’s civil rights by branding him on the arm with a cross. Also the parents claimed the mark lasted almost 4 weeks on their child’s arm.

When being asked about the incident, Freshwater said he simply made an “X,” not a cross, but all the students being interrogated, described the sign as a cross.

The investigation also revealed that Freshwater refused to remove a Bible and other religious materials from his classroom by motivating they were giving him inspiration and were getting him through the day. “That’s what it’s all about for me,” he said.

The report concluded that Freshwater was teaching his own religious beliefs “calling evolution into question.”

Also, high school science teachers reported that Freshwater’s teachings were undermining science instruction in the district. Moreover, some of them “expressed frustration and concern” because they had to re-teach scientific concepts to students who took Freshwater’s class.

This is not the single complaint against Freshwater’s behavior. Teachers and people in the community have been making such complaints for at least 11 years, according to the sayings of a school administrator. Freshwater has been a teacher in the district for 21 years.

R. Kelly Hamilton, Freshwater’s lawyer defended him saying he is a victim who’s being denied his Constitutional right to practice his beliefs. He called the complaints “fabrications,” not a single child being ever harmed.

Therefore, he will request a hearing before the school board to contest the firing.