AFT-Speeches

Al Shanker advocates that the democratic presidential candidate adopt the AFT''s program on a number of issues. The AFT''s ideas include: expanding the federal government''s role in funding education; increasing access to post-secondary education through tuition assistance; creating a system of federal daycare centers run through the public schools; providing federal financial assistance to state and local governments, especially for welfare and medical costs; and extending federal collective bargaining laws and pension protections to public employees.

In this debate moderated by John Merrow, Al Shanker and the NEA's Terry Herndon discuss a number of topics. The differences between the two organizations are dissected including the AFT's affiliation with the AFL-CIO and NEA's desire to remain separate from other labor groups; the NEA's use of racial quotas in its administration; and the use of secret ballots in the two organizations. Next, the two leaders discuss membership campaigns in New York, California, and Florida, where the NEA and AFT were competing for members.

Al Shanker and Grace Mitchell, and early childhood education expert, debate on Good Morning, America's Face-Off whether early childhood education should remain a private sector service or should become something maintained and overseen by the public sector. Shanker argues that the government should take over early childhood education, using the public schools and other locations to run the program. Mitchell maintains that the private sector is doing well currently and that any problems that exist would be solved better by working within the current system rather than creating a new empire.

Al Shanker discusses the need for changes in teacher training, and he calls for teacher colleges to join together with teachers, parents, administration, supervisors, and other interested parties in a coalition Shanker has formed to accomplish various education goals. Shanker cites a danger in criticizing teacher training and public schools to the point that small, independent education experiments are justified. Rather, he advocates for partnership over criticism and for improvement within the system instead of moving outside of it.