Rhode Island · School Talk

We May Be Closer to Making Sex Between Teachers and Students a Crime

My apologies if the title above makes you gasp but at least the news is good that Speaker Mattiello’s loss and the subsequent ascendancy of Joe Shekarchi bodes well for the chances of finally making it a crime for teachers to have sexual relationships with their students. He is firmly on the record in support… Continue reading We May Be Closer to Making Sex Between Teachers and Students a Crime

School Talk

Legislative Leaders Signal Support for Bill to Finally Criminalize Sex Between Teachers and Students

Rhode Island is one of only a few states that allows teachers and other school staff, under the law, to engage in sexual activity with the children in their care. While we watch teachers, coaches, substitutes and bus drivers across the country carted off in handcuffs for engaging in sex acts with minors, those stories… Continue reading Legislative Leaders Signal Support for Bill to Finally Criminalize Sex Between Teachers and Students

School Talk

Rhode Island Could Learn A Lot from Texas

I know, I know. Many of you from the northeast are already rolling your eyes and scoffing at the mere suggestion that we New Englanders, the enlightened ones, could learn anything from Texas. Time to take off the blinders, guys. Texas just implemented a ‘Do Not Hire’ registry for teachers who are under investigation for… Continue reading Rhode Island Could Learn A Lot from Texas

Rhode Island

Wall Street Journal Didn’t Print My Letter-to-the-Editor. So, here it is.

The recent editorial “An Education Horror Show”, written about my little state of Rhode Island, was absolutely spot on. But it missed one other important education story out of Little Rhody that reinforces what the WSJ’s editorial board so aptly describes as “government and union neglect.”   Rhode Island is one of a hand full of… Continue reading Wall Street Journal Didn’t Print My Letter-to-the-Editor. So, here it is.

School Talk

NEA Sends Thank You Note to Governor Raimondo—and a State Mourns

It’s never a good sign for students or taxpayers when the Executive Director of NEA RI is sending thank you notes to the Governor—on Twitter. Perhaps a moment of silence is in order. There was a time that Governor Gina Raimondo was a champion of reform, that rare Democrat willing to ignore and even clap… Continue reading NEA Sends Thank You Note to Governor Raimondo—and a State Mourns