AFT-Speeches

Shanker is speaking at the 1990 MSBA Management Seminar. He addresses thinking about kids as workers in the schools and asking them for their opinions. He talks about asking the "workers" how to make them want to come to work everyday.

Shanker speaks on building alliances for youth and strengthen ones that are already in place to help youth be more effective in society.

Shanker talks about the differences between student achievement in the United States verses other countries in the World. He talks about reexamining our current system to find ways to make it better.

Shanker talks about a possible future merger with the NEA, building a larger union and leadership roles within the union.

Al Shanker cites the corporate model as one that might help restructure and re-conceive public education. Profits and other incentives encourage corporations to change their practices to achieve the desired bottom line. With education, however, Shanker argues that innovation has been discouraged despite the failure to educate students. Further, Shanker argues that colleges should hold students to higher standards, and employers should consider high school performance in hiring so as to encourage high school students to work harder. He also argues that teachers should be given incentives too.  read more »