Rhode Island State Representative William O'Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE at the State House, where he spoke to introducing legislation (2018-H 7898) that would create a comprehensive bill of rights for school teachers in Rhode Island.
“The teachers of Rhode Island are finding it increasingly difficult to do their jobs every single year. Undersupplied classrooms, unruly students and parents, and a general lack of support from administration officials have cut into our teachers’ ability to properly educate our state’s students," said O’Brien. "My intent with this legislation is to empower our teachers so that they may educate our children and provide them with the knowledge to succeed later in life.”
According to O'Brien, the legislation lays out rights that would be afforded to teachers such as having all teachers work in an environment free from bullying and harassment from administrators, students, parents, and other teachers.
Provisions of the bill include teachers not be required, coerced, intimidated, or subjected to discipline in any manner by school administration to change a grade of test score; to not be required to use their personal out-of-pocket money to appropriately equip a classroom with the supplies needed to teach and reach students; to be provided with up-to-date technology, books and whatever else it takes to help students succeed; and to have academic freedom which shall be guaranteed to employees, and no special limitations shall be placed upon study, investigation, presenting and interpreting facts and ideas concerning people, human society, the physical and biological world, and other branches of learning subject to accepted standards of professional responsibility.
Related Slideshow: GoLocal: Benchmark Poll, October 2017
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