Harris, James

NPR Options in Education, “Profile of Shanker”

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:03 -0400

In this profile of Al Shanker, various colleagues, rivals, and critics, like Terry Herndon, William Simons, and David Seldon, are interviewed about Shanker. John Merrow and Barbara Reinhardt also interview Shanker himself on a variety of educational and personal topics including Jimmy Carter's performance, corporal punishment, test score decline, and busing and school integration.

NPR Options in Education, “Teacher Power”

jruss — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:21:18 -0500

Al Shanker and James Harris, president of the NEA, are interviewed by moderator John Merrow. They discuss the differences between their organizations and the possibility for merger. Some of the differences they discuss are secret ballot elections, affiliations with the AFL-CIO and CAPE (Coalition of Public Employees), quotas and affirmative action, and problems in the educational system. The vigorous debate reaches no consensus.

Today Show with Barbara Walters

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:10:05 -0500

Barbara Walters interviews Al Shanker and James Harris, president of the National Education Association (NEA) about a bill under consideration in Congress that would give teachers the right to bargain collectively. Harris and Shanker answer Walters's questions, explaining what the bill, if passed, would mean in practice.