Early Childhood Education

Good Morning, America: “Early Childhood Education”

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:36:08 -0500

Al Shanker and Grace Mitchell, and early childhood education expert, debate on Good Morning, America's Face-Off whether early childhood education should remain a private sector service or should become something maintained and overseen by the public sector. Shanker argues that the government should take over early childhood education, using the public schools and other locations to run the program. Mitchell maintains that the private sector is doing well currently and that any problems that exist would be solved better by working within the current system rather than creating a new empire.

League of Industrial Democracy Speech: I.S. 201

jruss — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:12:39 -0500

In light of a recent campaign for greater parent and community authority in school administration for a public school, I.S. 201, in Harlem, Al Shanker discusses the various attempts at school reform in New York City. He hits on the desire by I.S. 201 parents to select textbooks, to require a certain racial makeup in the school staff and administration, and the idea of handing over administration of schools to universities or community groups rather than the government. read more »

Little Rock Economic Conference

jruss — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:49:41 -0500

In this brief speech, Al Shanker discusses with then President-Elect Bill Clinton and Vice President-Elect Al Gore some of the challenges facing American education. He states that standards have been lowered to the point that high school diplomas are virtually meaningless. He compares the U.S. to other countries that have higher standards and also treat other problems differently. He notes that many European countries have early childhood education programs, and he advocates for a national day care program in the U.S. read more »

Meeting of the Day Care Alliance, National Council of Organizations for Children and Youth

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:31 -0400

Shanker takes questions about issues facing early childhood education and his view points about day care centers. Shanker’s main points are that there needs standardization in early childhood education and that those responsible for teaching Pre-K education need to take a more active stance in politics, on the local level as well as the national. The conversation does however flow through various aspects of educating immigrants, paraprofessionals and funding public and private day care facilities.

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.

Remarks to the Century Foundation Conference

jhelpap — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:54:11 -0400

In her short remarks to the National Press Club, Feldman addresses the issue of educating children from low-economic backgrounds. She stresses that the only way to make education in low-economic areas better is to focus on the following areas: quality early childhood education, low class sizes, and quality teachers.

Speaking Freely

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:31 -0400

Albert Shanker is interviewed by Edwin Newman. They discuss education finance, educational vouchers and the then teacher surplus. They cover the Shanker's upbringing, the idea of a merger with the National Education Association and the rise of public employees in the AFL-CIO.

Statement to Democratic Party Temporary Platform Committee

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:05:51 -0500

Al Shanker explains what the AFT believes should become part of the Democratic Party platform. These platform ideas include provisions of federal funding to support the requirements mandated in federal education law; federal effort to keep college and university tuition costs down; focus on the development of early childhood education programs; expansion of the National Labor Relations Act to cover public sector employees; economic recovery measures; and several other issues.

Testimony to the Democratic Party Platform Committee

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:47:39 -0500

Al Shanker advises the Democratic Party Platform Committee that education is a cornerstone of a democratic society. He further advises that the 1988 presidential platform set the following education goals: fund education reform research; increase aid to programs like Head Start, Chapter I, and Education for the Handicapped, and give priority to programs that address child health and nutrition; continue financial support for college students in the form of Pell grants, student loans, and the like; improve teacher recruitment; and invest in job training for the unemployed.