AFT-Speeches

Al Shanker comments on the Senate's investigation into math and science education in America. Because of students' low performance in these areas, the Senate was considering legislation to improve the situation. Shanker offers AFT's thoughts on what this legislation should accomplish.  read more »

In this interview, Al Shanker speaks about his childhood and his own experience as a student. He also talks about his time as a teacher before he became involved with union administration. He discusses his wife and children and their motives for moving out of New York City. In these discussions, he talks extensively about how education has changed from when he was a boy and the different issues that teachers face now. He cites disruptive students as a major impediment to recruiting good teachers. He also cites low salaries and increased employment options for women.  read more »

Al Shanker takes questions from a panel of interviewers on topics including merit pay, teacher recruitment and retention, President Reagan's record on education, federal funding for education, AFT political endorsements, affirmative action and racial quotas, teacher education and examination, and incentives.

Al Shanker testifies before the Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education of the U.S. House of Representatives. He gives AFT's endorsement to H.R. 2682, a bill to reform the current bilingual education legislation. He highlights four points from the bill that he believes will improve the current situation.  read more »

Shanker expresses his support for the nominees to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Morris Abram, John Bunzel, and Robert Destro and candidate for Commissionn Staff Director; Linda Chavez.