Disputes School District action

To the editor,

As a fiscal conservative and former resident and student in Holmes County schools, I am very disappointed in the Holmes County School Board’s decision to request the State of Florida Department of Education revise its curriculum regarding evolution. It seems that religious ideology has trumped science.

I didn’t know that conflicts with religious ideology can alter scientific fact. Maybe I should have paid better attention in science class.

What happened to the separation of church and state? I wonder what the science teachers and social science teachers think of this proposal. I wonder if they are too afraid to speak their minds.

I’m upset that the school board members couldn’t limit their religious education to their church’s Sunday school. If the school board doesn’t like the States’ standards, I suggest they stop taking state and federal money and start their own private religious based school. Please come to your senses and let the science teachers teach evolution. Leave the debate of evolution as a subject in a secular social studies class.

Doesn’t this county realize that it is hemorrhaging the bright minds that might improve the social and economic conditions of this destitute county? The future of this county is either moving elsewhere or being consumed by drugs.

The economic sectors in the area haven’t changed in a hundred years. Nationally, subsidized farming, manufacturing and illegal activities are filled by foreign third world countries. The current and future economic sectors of this country are not represented in Holmes County.

I believe that religion is necessary in every society, so please do not think I’m some tree hugging liberal that hates everything religious.

I feel religious teachings should be limited to Churches and that they should not be subsidized using governmental funds. I understand that the community leaders are running around trying to stop the out of control drug and related crimes.

This is a great and worthy goal but the actions by the school board are misguided. This proposal will hurt and not help with that goal. This county needs a long-term fix for a deep rooted problem.

This county needs more and better jobs. I earn a nice salary in large metropolitan area. However, I would be at or below the poverty level if I decided to move back home because the local economy would have me working at a bank, utility company or Wal-Mart.

In order to improve the local economy, this county must have a sustainable employable workforce in place. The keys to a sustainable workforce are education and training. Many of the counties smartest graduates leave the area because they are all competing for a handful of decent jobs. Until the county leaders wake up and take appropriate action, I hope their fingers hold the breaking dam.

Karen M.

Ammons-Calderon

Out-of-town subscriber