Commissioner Lisette Reynolds' defense is lacking.

Re: “Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizette Reynolds struggles with disrupting the status quo,” Joseph R. Murray II, April 10.

Attorney Joseph R. Murray's recent guest opinion column defending the disgraced Tennessee State Board of Education Commissioner Lisette Reynolds was as infuriating as it was shameless.

I don't want to get involved in his argument that public education in Tennessee is “rigorous.” As I have said repeatedly, the only data that shows that student standardized test scores have increased in recent years is the one data that Gov. Bill Lee himself has trumpeted. A complete failure and a laughing stock. ”

If that were the case, Tennesseans would do what they have been doing throughout this Congress: instead of begging their legislators to vote against it, they would be vocal in their support for Governor Lee's voucher program.

Board of Education disqualified over tuition exemption controversy

Murray, of course, is a supporter of the same voucher program. He is by no means a dispassionate observer. The weakness of his argument is highlighted by the fact that Mr. Reynolds could not find anyone else to defend his conduct and qualifications.