Feldman, Sandra

AFT Educational Issues Department Records

scaloia — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:20:16 -0400

The American Federation of Teachers is a labor union representing primary and secondary school teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty and professional staff, and nurses and other health care professionals. The AFT Educational Issues Department, originally the Task Force on Educational Issues, is the research and development arm of the union. The department tracks education policies from local, state and national bodies, conducts research and analysis on those policies, produces briefs and reports, conducts workshops, and assists local AFT affiliates on educational issues. A major initiative of the department is the Education Research & Dissemination program (ER&D). The program began in 1981 with a grant from the National Institute of Education. It is focused on professional development through the collection of a body of research on education issues and translation of that material to classroom applications. Teachers are able to access research and apply new techniques in their classrooms. The ER&D program explores topics such as instruction methods, critical thinking, behavior management, and student motivation. Projects include the Visiting Practitioner program and Thinking Mathematics. The Educational Issues Department also organizes the bi-annual QuEST (Quality Educational Standards in Teaching) Conference.

The AFT Education Issues Department Records contain correspondence and chronological files, meeting minutes, reports, manuscripts and drafts, annotated articles, reports, conference packets, press releases, newsletters, fliers, photographs, negatives, and VHS and audiocassette tapes. The records contain communications with and publications from many education-related organizations as well as granting institutions.

AFT: Human Rights and Community Relations Records

dgolodner — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:04:52 -0400

The Human Rights and Community Relations Department of the American Federation of
Teachers was created by Vice President Richard Parrish October 2, 1966. Before the
official department was created it was a standing committee and then a permanent
committee with in the executive council. The department was created as an office in the
AFT that would be responsible for collecting and distributing information about the
government, education and community policies and programs dealing with civil and
human rights. The most important duty of the department is to guide the AFT in any
“involvement with or commitment to labor and other organizations concerned with civil
and human rights.”

Part One of the collection deals with the Racism in Education conference that the AFT sponsored throughout the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Other materials are general subject files and correspondence to and from the Civil Rights Department. Part Two of the collection pertains to black history, race relations and women’s rights on both national and local levels. The collection consists of AFT files as well as meeting and conference information. The department maintained a large section of subject files relating to civil and human rights in education.

AFT President's Office: Assistant to the President Bella Rosenberg Records

scaloia — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 17:21:06 -0500

Bella Rosenberg served as the assistant to the president of the American Federation of Teachers from 1984-2005, under Albert Shanker and Sandra Feldman. Albert Shanker was president of the AFT from 1974 to 1997. He was one of the first educators to embrace the findings of the report A Nation at Risk which outlined extensive problems in America’s public schools. Shanker and Rosenberg worked closely on various initiatives, many of them in response to the report. This included a peer review program started at the Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250, a teacher certification program called the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and in 1988, the concept of charter schools, which later took on a life of its own and became very different from Shanker’s original vision. Beginning in 1970, while Shanker was still president of New York’s United Federation of Teachers, he wrote a weekly column in the Sunday New York Times titled “Where We Stand”. He had to purchase advertising space in order to publish his writing. The weekly column lasted for 26 years. Sandra Feldman became Vice-President of the AFT in 1974, president of the UFT in 1986, and took over presidency of the AFT upon Shanker’s death in 1997. She was also involved in the AFL-CIO and Education International, a worldwide federation of teachers’ unions. During her AFT presidency, she strengthened the union’s relationship with the National Education Association, though a vote to merge with the NEA did not pass. Feldman served as AFT president until 2004.

Rosenberg collaborated with Shanker and Feldman on many projects and initiatives for the AFT. They worked together on articles and speeches, particularly Shanker’s “Where We Stand” column. Rosenberg was a primary force in AFT’s Lessons for Life Campaign in the mid-1990s, which sought to address issues raised in A Nation at Risk. Rosenberg worked on a report released by the AFT in 2004, for which she analyzed data from the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress to conclude charter schools were performing worse than traditional public schools. She also gave many of her own speeches and interviews as a representative of the AFT.

The AFT President’s Office: Assistant to the President Bella Rosenberg Records contain correspondence, memos, notes, reports, manuscripts, books, brochures, press releases, surveys, minutes, VHS and audio cassette tapes, and photographic slides documenting the activities of the national office. The collection also contains articles, speeches, and testimonies, including, in some cases, multiple annotated drafts exchanged between Rosenberg and Shanker and Rosenberg and Feldman.

AFT Southern Regional Office Records

drice — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:56:38 -0400

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), was founded in 1916 to improve the working lives of teachers through-out the country and has grown to be one of the largest unions in the United States that is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The southern regional office is one of five satellite offices of the AFT. The southern region represents teachers from elementary school through higher education, paraprofessionals, and school-related personnel who are members of the AFT in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The function of the office is to assist in organizing local affiliates in the region, help with negotiations, lend support in various education reform initiatives and train AFT members in the region.

The majority of the office’s records consist of correspondence between locals, school districts, and the AFT. These records also give detailed information on organizing campaigns and negotiating contracts. Other materials include state constitutions, education related issues, lawsuits, legal decisions, state and federal legislation, pamphlets, salary information, news releases, newspaper articles, and union newsletters.

American Federation of Teachers Publications

dgolodner — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:23:31 -0500

The American Federation of Teachers was founded in 1916 and immediately made the American Teacher, published by the New York City Teachers Union, as its official organ. Since then the AFT has published numerous publications that range from organizing tools to professional development materials for its members. It has also published materials dealing with the labor movement, tenure, civil and human rights as well as teaching tools. Official publications of the AFT also spoke directly to the AFT’s diverse membership, which includes higher education higher education faculty and staff, paraprofessionals, public employees and health care workers.

This is an artificial collection made up of these publications from AFT headquarters, AFT affiliates and individuals associated with the AFT drawn from the preexisting library collection and from various other shipments.

Subject Focus: Women in Labor Unions

drice — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:44:25 -0400

“We didn’t come here to swap recipes!” Those words, uttered by Myra Wolfgang during the first Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) convention in 1974 set the tone for an agenda aimed at increasing women’s involvement and influence in labor unions. Coming on the heels of landmark legislation such as the Equal Pay Act (1963), the Civil Rights Act (1964), and the Equal Employment Opportunities Act (1972), the formation of CLUW institutionalized the long-held ambitions of individual female union members to participate more fully in the labor movement. read more »

(27809) Charlie Cogen and Sandra Feldman

jhelpap — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:07:55 -0500

Charlie Cogen and Sandra Feldman at the 1980 AFT Convention in Detroit, MI.

(30862) Al Gore and Sandra Feldman

jhelpap — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:15:46 -0500

Al Gore and Sandra Feldman shake hands as NEA President Bob Cohase looks on

(30863) Sandra Feldman on the Picket Line

jhelpap — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:20:55 -0500

Vice President of the United Federation of Teachers, Sandra Feldman, on the picket lines

(30864) Sandra Feldman and Daniel Patrick Maynihan

jhelpap — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:26:33 -0500

Sandra Feldman and Daniel Patrick Maynihan

(30865) Sandra Feldman with UFT Members on the Picket Lines

jhelpap — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:31:27 -0500

Sandra Feldman with United Federation of Teachers members on the picket lines

(30866) Sandra Feldman Picketing

jhelpap — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:36:47 -0500

A young Sandra Feldman picketing in front of a Howard Johnson restaurant in Maryland.
The sign reads "Racial Prejudice is Unchristian"

(30867) Sandra Feldman, Pizza Hut Demonstration

jhelpap — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 17:43:31 -0500

Sandra Feldman picketing in the Pizza Hut Demonstration at the 1994 AFT Convention in Anaheim, CA. Left to right: Randi Weingarten; Tom Meany; Sandra Feldman; Pat Tornillo; David Grey; and Thomas Hobart

(31008) Pizza Hut Demonstration

jhelpap — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:26:23 -0500

(l-r) Randi Weingarten; Tom Meeny; Sandra Feldman; Pat Tornillo; David Grey; and Thomas Hobart march in the Pizza Hut Demonstration at the 1994 AFT Convention

(31009) Sandra Feldman, New York City Teacher's Night

jhelpap — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:32:38 -0500

Sandra Feldman accepting an award on behalf of the United Federation of Teachers at New York City Teacher's Night.

(31010) President Bill Clinton and Sandra Feldman

jhelpap — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:39:50 -0500

President Bill Clinton and Sandra Feldman at an AFT event

(31012) Herb Magidson, Sandra Feldman and Thomas Hobart

jhelpap — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:22:48 -0500

AFT President Sandra Feldman and NYSUT President Thomas Hobart stand by retiree award recipient Herb Magidson

(31293) Edward McElroy, Walter Mondale and Sandra Feldman

jhelpap — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:29:26 -0500

Sandra Feldman, Walter Mondale and Edward McElroy at the 1978 AFT Convention in Washington D.C.

220,000 Teachers a Year; Putting First-Class Educators in Every Classroom

jhelpap — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:19:38 -0400

In this speech to the Economic Club of Detroit, Feldman addresses the issue of recruiting and retaining quality teachers for every classroom. She congratulates the Detroit Federation of Teachers on fighting for quality education in low-income classrooms. Feldman goes through ten steps that teachers and their unions should be doing to improve public school education.

American Federation of Teachers Convention Speech, 2000

jhelpap — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:36:52 -0400

At the 76th annual AFT Convention, Feldman addresses the issues of turning around failing schools, school vouchers, high-quality early childhood education, teacher salaries and the quality of teachers in the profession.

Building and Construction Trades Department Convention

jhelpap — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:47:45 -0400

In this speech at the 66th annual Building and Construction Trades Department, Feldman addresses the relationship between the American Federation of Teachers and the Building and Construction Trades. Most of all, she addresses the issue of re-building America's schools; making sure that all schools are a safe and clean environment for all children to attend.

Celebrating UUP's 25th Anniversary

jhelpap — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:20:06 -0400

In this speech, Feldman recognizes the United University Professions of the State University of New York, for celebrating their 25th anniversary. She also congratulates them on their recent contract negotiations. She also discusses the future of public universities, faculty tenure, and the unpreparedness of incoming college freshman. She challenges the union members to step up and get involved.

Civil, Human, and Women's Rights Conference

jhelpap — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:32:45 -0400

In this speech at the 1998 AFT Convention, Feldman addresses the issue of education being fundamental to civil rights, to human rights, and to women's rights. Feldman also addresses the issue of vouchers being called a "civil right" by politicians.

Core Knowledge Conference

dgolodner — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:03:23 -0400

In this speech, Feldman shares historical facts about the relationship between the Core Knowledge group and the American Federation of Teachers. She specifically gives examples of New York City school district #4 education reforms.

Education International: 1998 World Conference

jhelpap — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:11:38 -0400

In this speech at the opening ceremony of the Education International 1998 World Conference, Feldman welcomes the attendees to the conference on behalf of the American Federation of Teachers. She speaks on the struggle to improve public schools and public education as a whole.

Education Minnesota Convention

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:52:12 -0400

Feldman was the keynote speaker at the Education Minnesota Convention. In this speech she addresses Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura's comments in the Washington Post ("style" section) and agrees with how he is supporting education. Feldman addresses the issues of what works in public schools, vouchers and making sure all schools meet the national standard.

Great Lakes Regional Conference

jhelpap — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:10:49 -0400

In this speech in Chicago, Feldman reports to the Great lakes AFT locals, what is happening nationally in education. She addresses issues of social security and medicare, violence and gun control, vouchers and smaller class sizes.

Italian-American Labor Council

jhelpap — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:37 -0400

In her remarks before the Italian-American Labor Council, Feldman thanks the NYSUT and Italian-American Labor Council for giving her an award that was inspired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She goes on to address the issues of free education to children all over the world and the status of public education in our country.

Keynote Address to the Ohio Federation of Teachers

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:31:45 -0400

In this speech to the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Feldman tells the audience how proud she and the American Federation of Teachers are about the challenges that Ohio has overcome during the previous year. She reminds them that the challenges are not over and there is still a battle over vouchers and teacher standards that needs to be fought.

Lifting the Profession: Teachers and Schools for the New Millenium

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:35:20 -0400

In this speech, Feldman speaks to the 12th international congress for school effectiveness and improvement. She talks about the challenges that all schools face all over the world, the advantages that American schools have on international schools, and the disadvantages that American schools have compared to others in the World.

Michigan Quest 2000

jhelpap — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:34:28 -0400

In this speech at the first QUEST Conference for the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel, Feldman congratulates them on creating the "All Kids First" alliance. She then goes on to address the issues of school vouchers, charter schools, standardized testing, funding for education and early childhood education.

Only Connect

jhelpap — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:48:21 -0400

In this speech at the 1998 annual meeting of the American Association of University Professors, Feldman addresses the possible merger of the AFT and the NEA, threats to higher education and K-16 collaborations.

Remarks at the JFK School of Government, Harvard University Institute on Labor-Management Cooperation in School Districts

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:02:15 -0400

In this speech, Feldman addresses the issues that are facing public education. She talks about how everyone needs to work together to fix the public school systems. Teachers, principals, superintendents, school boards and unions must have a good working partnership to solve the problems in public schools nationwide.

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.

Saving Our Public Schools; Steps Toward Reform

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:08:32 -0400

In front of the Education and Children's Issues Task force of the Woman's National Democratic Club in Washington D.C., Feldman addresses the issue of public schools in America. She states that America's future is linked with the future of America's Public Schools and any attempt to privatize them, pinch pennies on them or put an end to them is going to shortchange out kids and shrink our countries future. Feldman then goes on to explain how members of this club can make America's schools everything they can be.

Sharing Our Future; Teacher Preparation As Seen By Practicing Teachers

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:44:06 -0400

In this speech, Feldman addresses the AACTE conference on the issues of "teacher quality", and the issue of making sure that teacher education is strengthened and not dismantled. She speaks about teaching being addressed as a profession and the issue of making sure that every teacher obtains the skills needed to do his/her job.

Speech before the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)

jhelpap — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:05:01 -0400

In her first time addressing the New York State Union of Teachers, (NYSUT) as president of the American Federation of Teachers, Feldman compliments them on their membership and professional programs. She also addresses the recent act of school violence in Littleton, CO. She encourages the NYSUT to continue to fight for quality standards and safe schools.

Speech to HUD, Community 2020 Seminar Series

jhelpap — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:53:47 -0400

In this speech to HUD in the community seminar series Schools and Communities in the 21st Century, Feldman addresses the issues taking place in urban, disadvantaged school districts. She also addresses the importance of small class sizes, high academic standards and teacher quality in all districts.

Speech to the Commonwealth Club of California

jhelpap — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:04:00 -0400

In this speech to the Commonwealth Club of California, Feldman talks about her commitment to a universal quality public education. She addresses the commitment of the American Federation of Teachers to making sure no public school is falling behind standards and that all K-12 teachers are prepared and ready to teach.