Mark Tangarone: Weston TAG teacher leaves over evolution flap

Mark Tangarone: Weston TAG teacher leaves over evolution flap

Mark Tangarone: Weston TAG teacher leaves over evolution flap

Written by Patricia Gay
Wednesday, 14 April 2010 10:43

Mark Tangarone, who teaches the Talented and Gifted Program at the Weston Intermediate School, said he is leaving because he was told he couldn’t teach evolution. Administrators refute that claim. —Patricia Gay photo

Mark Tangarone, who teaches third, fourth, and fifth grade students in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program at Weston Intermediate School, said he is retiring at the end of the current school year because of a clash with the school administration over the teaching of evolution.

“Under normal circumstances, I would have retired in two more years. However, I feel that because of an unacceptable administrative action, I can no longer continue teaching in Weston,” Mr. Tangarone said.

Mr. Tangarone, a 17-year veteran of the Weston school system, claims that a program he wanted to teach about Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln was rejected by the school administration because it involved teaching evolution — the scientific theory that all life is related and has descended from a