Board Of Ed's Mancuso On Tests, Teachers And Gist
Eva-Marie Mancuso, the state’s new Board of Education chair, uses courtroom demeanor to try to convince angry teachers and nervous parents that change is necessary.
Eva-Marie Mancuso enjoys a lively debate but is clear about one thing: When it comes to educating Rhode Island’s children, the status quo is not an option. At a recent Q&A session in East Greenwich, the state’s new Board of Education chair, sparred with state Sen. James Sheehan (D-NK, Narr.) over teacher evaluations, cajoled teachers to work with the state, and tried to reassure at least one parent that using passage of a test as a graduation requirement is the right move. The forum, organized by the EG Democratic Town Committee, was held at EG’s Town Hall, the former Kent County Courthouse. The setting suited Mancuso, a personal injury lawyer. Although the new Board of Education for the first time combines all levels of public education …
Alan Clarke
9:31 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
I have a standard response to any questions of that nature. I say "THIS is Rhode Island!" I realize this is a slap in the face from someone who has lived here long enough to know we do not do much right. Seriously, we never seem to fix anything, we just make things worse. But I know a kid who moved here from Mass. who took a big dip in grades because he was so far ahead of his RI peers that he … more ›