Section 200-RICR-20-20-2.2 - Purpose of this PartA. It is evident that Rhode Island teachers must be able to read, write, and speak the English language with sufficient competence to allow them to teach effectively, participate in advisories and common planning time, and successfully participate in staff development programs.B. A teacher's ability to effectively use the English language provides students with an exemplar they can use to improve their own competence in the use of English. Regardless of the specific subject the teacher is teaching, the teacher's effective use of English in the classroom will tend to enlarge students' vocabularies and enhance the ability of students to express complex thoughts in the English language. These improved student competencies will help students, particularly disadvantaged students and English language learners, to progress in all the other areas of their school work, while at the same time preparing them for success in college and careers.C. A teacher's command of English must also be sufficient to allow the teacher to deal with disciplinary situations, to understand the import of student comments that might constitute bullying or harassment, and to respond to student health, psychological, and social issues, along with issues involving the immediate safety and welfare of students. D. Because of these varied demands of the teaching profession, it is essential that all public-school teachers must be able to competently read, write, and speak English.200 R.I. Code R. 200-RICR-20-20-2.2