AFT-Speeches

Al Shanker answers questions about his vision of how schools need to change. He thinks that a new system of incentives must be developed to encourage educators to take charge of their own school reform efforts. Shanker believes that one aspect of restructuring involves different roles for teachers. He also sees a role for technology and speaks of creating a national lesson plan database. Shanker also discusses the role legislators have played in school reform.

Keynote address at the Southeastern Pennsylvania State Legislator's Conference. Shanker talks about statistics in education, and how the education system needs to change to meet the needs of all students.

Shanker talks about how being above the current national average in education isn't good enough compared to the rest of the World.

This document is comprised of two speeches. The first is the keynote address at the 1990 AFT convention. Al Shanker discusses what has been accomplished in the two years since the previous convention. He comments on the growth of the union, noting how they now represent professional teachers, paraprofessionals, school-related workers, health care workers, and city and local employees.  read more »