AFT-Speeches

Al Shanker argues strongly that President Reagan's budget proposal should be rejected and overhauled. Reagan's proposals include a 32% cut in education funding and a 40% cut in children's nutrition funding. These cuts are larger than for other agencies, and Shanker deplores the disproportionality as well as what the cuts would mean for schools. Not only would educational programs be endangered, but the nutrition cut would also seriously jeopardize the school lunch program.  read more »

At an unknown AFT luncheon Shanker delivers a speech about the current conditions of education and social policy. What concerns Shanker is the myths being perpetuated about the state of the middle class in America and America's prosperity. His second theme of the speech is concered with the Coleman Report and various new attacks on public education.

Al Shanker begins this speech with the economy. He cites three myths about the economic downturn: first, that people are worse off than in the past; second, that the middle class is suffering because of focus on the poor; and third, that government spending causes inflation. Shanker further asserts that school funding should not be cut. Next, Shanker turns to education. He cites a recent report that said private schools are doing better than public schools. Shanker states that this is false, but that the public holds this perception. He urges the audience to change that perception.  read more »

Shanker's statement calls for more federally legislated and financed programs to help with issues in education that the are usually assumed to be the state or local problem. He sees the danger in continuing a decentralized education system.

Al Shanker states that teachers should take charge of education reform rather than waiting for legislators with little to no expertise to write mandates that make little sense and are nearly impossible to meet. He cites three areas that should be addressed: increasing teacher pay, reducing class size, and giving teachers more time to grade work and plan lessons. Yet, Shanker said this would cost more money than they can ever realistically expect to receive. So what is the answer, he asks?  read more »