AFT-Speeches

Shanker testifies to the subcommittee about the importance of keeping a federal role in academic standards. He sites that it will keep the US educational system competitive globally and that there are signs that the tougher national standards are working in raising test scores. He ends by stating that Goals 2000 should stay intact.

At the AFT biannual QuEST conference, Shanker delivers his keynote speech. He addresses some big issues facing the union at the time. The first issue is Educational Alternatives Incorporated (EAI) take over of some schools in Baltimore and Hartford. He points out where EAI had failed to deliver their promise of better test scores. His second issue is vouchers programs. Another issue he wanted to update the membership on was the federation budget and the battle between the US Congress and President Clinton.
Shanker then talks about a code of conduct for schools when dealing with disruptive students and how tougher standards have improved test scores. He then announces that the AFT will launch a national campaign that is a bill of rights and responsibilities for learning: standards of conduct, standards for achievement.

Al Shanker urges that behavioral and academic standards be implemented and enforced. He believes that experimentation can be useful and productive, and he thinks goals to educate all students are noble. The bottom line, he says, however, is that a few disruptive students can prevent entire classes from learning and that academic standards are not rigorous enough and carry too few consequences to encourage students to apply themselves.  read more »