Affirmative Action

Meet the Press

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

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.

National Press Club Luncheon

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:29 -0400

Shanker speaks in front of the National Press Club to propose a few ideas that he believes will help in the long run the dire economic problems the country was facing in the mid-1970s. He proposes an early childhood education, an extra step for teacher education similar to what doctors go through and more emphasis on continuing education. After his speech he takes various questions from the audience ranging from his salary, NEA and AFT merger, merit pay and affirmative action.

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.

NPR Options in Education, “The Great Debate III”

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

John Merrow interviews Al Shanker and NEA Executive Director Terry Herndon. They begin by discussing discipline in schools and corporal punishment. Then, Merrow asks the union leaders about standardized tests for students and about evaluative examinations for teachers. The debate then turns to tenure. Herndon and Shanker both advocate strongly for tenure while Merrow questions its purpose. Next the leaders discuss affirmative action and quotas, especially focusing on a court case, Bakke v. read more »

Statement for the Special Sub-Committee on Education: Hiring Policies in Higher Education

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:13:53 -0500

Al Shanker offers advice on hiring in higher education. Responding to a desire for more minorities to be hired, Shanker warns that affirmative action must start earlier than the hiring stage. He states that currently there simply are not many minorities earning PhDs, and so opportunities for minority education must begin sooner. He cites a couple programs that he believes approach this problem successfully.

SUNY Albany: "In Defense of the University"

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

Al Shanker describes how the typical liberal education which universities have offered in the past has been drastically diminished. He believes that the protest culture of the 1960s contributed to a lowering of academic standards which has continued through a promotion of vocational education. He states, “The university as a rallying point for political action may seem like a far cry from the university as a vocational training center. read more »