Two letters to the editor were printed in today’s Daytona Beach News Journal about the appointment of Andy Tuck to the Florida Board of Education.
First one:
Religion, not science
Should Gov. Rick Scott’s appointment of Andy Tuck, who so virulently opposes the teaching of evolution in our state’s schools, be taken as an indication of the governor’s own regard for pseudo-science? Tuck is highly regarded among those who wish to undermine sound science education in our schools and tear down what President Thomas Jefferson called “the wall of separation of church and state.†The creationism Tuck wishes to have taught in place of evolution is a religious doctrine, not science! Education board members need to support academic integrity. Tuck seems to be at war with academic integrity.
The Bible and religious instruction have important positions in our lives, but do not belong in taxpayer supported schools and certainly can’t be called science! We need state Board of Education members who will never attempt to use yesterday’s answers, like creationism, to answer tomorrow’s problems — foremost among them, the maintenance of the highest quality educational standards in the 21st century!
Rabbi Merrill Shapiro
Palm Coast
Shapiro is president of the board of trustees of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Second one:
Appointment is troubling
With the stroke of his pen, Gov. Rick Scott, a few days ago, brought Florida into the 16th century! The man who refers to himself as an “education governor†appointed Andy Tuck, a citrus grower from Highlands County, to the Florida Board of Education. I, for one, am deeply disturbed by this selection because Andy Tuck has stated clearly that he does not believe that evolution should be taught in the public schools.
He said, “I strongly oppose any study of evolution being taught at all. I’m purely in favor of it staying a theory and only a theory. I won’t support evolution being taught as a fact in any of our schools.†That statement troubles me.
Mr. Tuck’s quote seems to show that he doesn’t know, or accept the accepted definition of “theory†as used by scientists. Despite Gov. Scott’s often-stated belief that Florida needs an outstanding public school system, by pandering to the religious right he surrenders all claim of the honored title as an education governor.
Larry Babitts
Ormond Beach
Babitts is president of the Democratic Club of Northeast Volusia County.
