PROVIDENCE — Charges of racism and cyber-bullying erupted over the weekend in a Twitter fight between two Rhode Island lawmakers, one of them a black female Democrat and the other a white male Republican.

The issue: the state of the education system in Rhode Island, as dismal student test scores have prompted the Democratic leaders of both the House and the Senate to elevate "school reform" to priority status in the 2019 legislative session.

It began with a series of tweets by Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell early Saturday morning, including this one: "Only when we recognize that our students are more than test scores, more than data, and only when we begin to value their teachers will we begin to see real and sustained improvements in education#ITeach."

Most people who offer opinions abt teaching & learning have never been in a classroom haven’t taken a course in education or educational psychology have never had a real conversation with teachers or students Then you should just stop giving opinions U are not an expert#ITeachpic.twitter.com/Jarhfwksfp

— Rep.Marcia Ranglin (@MRanglinVassell)January 5, 2019

Ten minutes later she elaborated in a second tweet: "Most people who offer opinions abt teaching & learning have never been in a classroom haven’t taken a course in education or educational psychology have never had a real conversation with teachers or students Then you should just stop giving opinions U are not an expert#ITeach."

That elicited this response from lawyer-legislator Brian Newberry, a North Smithfield Republican and former House minority leader:

"All part-time legislators have expertise and experience in some areas and not others. That said, we should all respectfully listen to the views of those we represent and, if we disagree and know better, seek to educate and inform, not rudely dismiss. Give Respect, Get Respect."

All part-time legislators have expertise and experience in some areas and not others. That said, we should all respectfully listen to the views of those we represent and, if we disagree and know better, seek to educate and inform, not rudely dismiss. Give Respect, Get Respect.https://t.co/G1IAR8LogK

— Brian C. Newberry (@BrianCNewberry)January 6, 2019

That sparked this response from Ranglin-Vassell, a special education teacher at the Providence Career and Technical Academy: "Stop trolling and trying to cyber bully me with your racist attitudes."

Stop trolling and trying to cyber bully me with your racist attitudes ..

— Rep.Marcia Ranglin (@MRanglinVassell)January 6, 2019

His response: "Your comments do more damage to our collective reputation than an indictment. No one believes we're all crooks but plenty will believe we all share your dismissive attitude toward those who elect us and pay our salary. If you can't handle criticism you shouldn't be in office."

Your comments do more damage to our collective reputation than an indictment. No one believes we're all crooks but plenty will believe we all share your dismissive attitude toward those who elect us and pay our salary. If you can't handle criticism you shouldn't be in office.

— Brian C. Newberry (@BrianCNewberry)January 6, 2019

Her 11:53 a.m. response: "' You can’t bully me off twitter. You’re a bully."

You can’t bully me off twitter. You’re a bully .

— Rep.Marcia Ranglin (@MRanglinVassell)January 6, 2019

Soon other Republican lawmakers jumped into the Twitter fracas, in Newberry's defense.

"Marcia, this is WAY over the line. Nothing Brian said is racist or bullying, and Brian is one of the most honorable people I know. You need to delete this immediately,'' House Minority Whip Michael Chippendale, R-Foster, tweeted at 7 p.m.

Added House Minority Leader Blake Filippi, R-Block Island, at 7:05 p.m.: "Charges of racism are serious. What is your proof @BrianCNewberry has 'racist attitudes'? If you cannot provide any proof, you need to immediately and publicly retract your multiple libelous statements."

Ranglin-Vassell chose to take her argument to Facebook instead, where family, friends and supporters rallied to her side, among them her sister Lisa Ranglin, who wrote: "This is awful and will not be tolerated, Brian Newberry."

"Deranged,'' wrote Michael S. Van Leesten.

"Welcome to the new Trumpian Republican party where racism is not only tolerated but encouraged,'' wrote a man who identified himself as Richard Corso.

Meanwhile, Twitter watchers from outside the legislature weighed in, including education blogger Erika Sanzi, who criticized Ranglin-Vassell's tweet about critics of the state's education system: "This is such a dangerous attitude for an elected official — and educator — to have."

"RI is 46th out of 50 in 8th grade math. 44th out of 50 for 4th grade math. 3rd in teacher absenteeism. 7th in student absenteeism. But sure, let's tell all stakeholders who aren't educators to shut up and then accuse them of being racist bullies if they don't. Unacceptable,'' wrote Sanzi, who also blogged her take on the situation.

"By her own logic, she should keep quiet on issues like economics, transportation, finance, healthcare, or anything else about which she has no “expertise.” Which, of course, would be absolutely ridiculous. I’d love to hear her opinions on all those subjects,'' tweeted Eric Palmieri, the political director for the Libertarian Party of Rhode Island.

"There was absolutely nothing racist about @BrianCNewberry’s comments here. That is a RIDICULOUS statement. What happened to respectful open debate?'' asked Lawrence Gillheeney, who describes himself as an "advocate'' at the conservative Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity. "Rep. @MRanglinVassell owes @BrianCNewberry and the people of Rhode Island a public apology for her terrible and false accusation."

Ranglin-Vassell's online response to the calls for her to retract her accusation against Newberry: "If you haven’t experienced racism how would you know what it feels like? #BelieveBlackWomen."

In a telephone interview on Monday, Newberry said: "I felt an elected official telling constituents, in effect, that unless she deems you an expert she doesn't want your opinion on an issue reflects very badly on us as a body because it makes it very easy for people to think we all think that way.

"And that was the point of my first comment. That is not how we should act to the public. There is nothing racist or bullying about that."

Ranglin-Vassell told The Journal on Monday she apologizes to any parent who might have thought her words were aimed at them, but not to Newberry, who she believes has "targeted" her more than once with "demeaning" comments.

She her initial tweet was aimed at critics who blame teachers for low test scores without "connecting the dots" between — for example — poverty and poor student performance.

"We've got to increase [the scores] by feeding kids. We've got to increase it by looking at the trauma that they experience. We've got to increase it by making sure that there is adequate resources in our classrooms: social workers, guidance counselors, peer counselors. That's really the place I was coming from when I ... started writing," Ranglin-Vassell said.

Late Monday, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello weighed in: “I have always found Brian Newberry to be intelligent, thoughtful and analytical, whether I agree with him or not. He’s an excellent attorney, professional and always treats everyone with respect and dignity. I have never sensed a trace of any ill will, prejudice or any other negative attribute on his part.”