AFT-Speeches

Shanker is talking to a conference of AFT Paraprofessionals. His introduction is about how the United Federation of Teachers brought Paras into their fold and how the solidarity between teachers and paras grew quickly. He talks about the idea of certification for paras in schools that would increase their prominence in the schools. The speech then moves to the danger of privatization in public schools.

Shanker is speaking in front of the Commission on the Future of Worker-Management Relations or later named the "Dunlop Commission" specifically about the Yeshiva decision and hoping that they would reverse the decision legislatively. He gives examples of the rise of professional unionism in the United States, he sights organizing doctors at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, talks about the Toledo Plan or Peer Assistance and Review, Rochester Teachers Association and finally the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

Marcia Reese, assistant to the president of the AFT, interviews Shanker about his column ‘Where We Stand’ The interview moves further on the development of Al’s thinking via the column with various education reforms from open classrooms to peer review. They also discuss Shanker’s education, early career as a teacher and forming the United Federation of Teachers.

Al Shanker comments on Dan Sanders, an official retiring from the NYSUT (New York State United Teachers). Shanker talks about Sanders's efforts during the merger of NYSTA (New York State Teachers Association) and UTNY (United Teachers of New York) to form NYSUT. He also commends Sanders's position as editor of the union's newspaper and his role in fighting vouchers. He also speaks of his personal friendship with Sanders, his colleague and neighbor. Next, Shanker answers questions about Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel (PSRP).

The interviewer, Ed Muzik, first asks Al Shanker to discuss his background. Shanker gives a brief biography and then goes into the organization of the AFT, citing the benefits of unionization to the teachers. In addition to concrete benefits such as wage increases and breaks from work, Shanker discusses the benefits of professionalization that unionizing gave teachers. Muzik then asks Shanker about the unionization of higher education professionals. Shanker challenges various concerns to organizing by higher education workers such as a feared loss of academic freedom.