Monday
Nov172008
American Federation of Teachers: “Reinvest, Don’t Disinvest”
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 12:26PM
“Let’s choose to advance, not retreat,” said Randi Weingarten, the newly elected president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), who held a press conference on Education and the Economy today. Weingarten continued, “with the exception of vouchers, which siphon scarce resources from public schools, n issue should be off the table, provided it is good for children and fair to teachers.”
The mayor of New York City, Michael R. Bloomberg (I-N.Y.), enthusiastically introduced Weingarten as a woman who brought great educational reform to new York City, increased teachers salaries across the board by 43% since 2002, eliminated forced transfers to more challenging schools, and balanced out the number of experienced teachers at each school.
Weingarten said the federal No Child Left Behind Act “has become a stand-in for real discussions at the state and national levels about a robust education policy that prepares our children for the 21st century,” and offered several suggestions for education reform. These included providing universal early childhood education, expanding teacher induction, and having schools offer social services throughout the day such as child care, night classes, dental and medical care, and after school services.
Weingarten also supports teacher tenure, but said it isn’t “a guarantee of a job for life.” She supports peer monitoring and review programs in order to ensure tenured teacher quality. In regard to differentiated pay, Weingarten supports paying more to teachers who take on additional responsibilities, work in hard-to-staff schools or subjects, and who are mentors for their fellow teachers.
The mayor of New York City, Michael R. Bloomberg (I-N.Y.), enthusiastically introduced Weingarten as a woman who brought great educational reform to new York City, increased teachers salaries across the board by 43% since 2002, eliminated forced transfers to more challenging schools, and balanced out the number of experienced teachers at each school.
Weingarten said the federal No Child Left Behind Act “has become a stand-in for real discussions at the state and national levels about a robust education policy that prepares our children for the 21st century,” and offered several suggestions for education reform. These included providing universal early childhood education, expanding teacher induction, and having schools offer social services throughout the day such as child care, night classes, dental and medical care, and after school services.
Weingarten also supports teacher tenure, but said it isn’t “a guarantee of a job for life.” She supports peer monitoring and review programs in order to ensure tenured teacher quality. In regard to differentiated pay, Weingarten supports paying more to teachers who take on additional responsibilities, work in hard-to-staff schools or subjects, and who are mentors for their fellow teachers.
Economic recovery package has bipartisan backing
"We all know there is no longer a debate as to whether there should be a stimulus package, only what's going to be part of it," said Schumer during a press conference with Senator Rober Menendez (D-N.J.). Also in attendance were the Presidents of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
"There is a broad agreement on both sides of the aisle that a package, a large, broad package is necessary. That's made negotiations very productive,” said Schumer.
The Senator from New York commented that there have not been any attempts by Members of Congress to alter the package by leveraging their influence.
"I haven't heard a single member say 'if this isn't in or that isn't in, I'm not voting for the package'. Usually when you have large, comprehensive packages at this stage in the negotiations that's what you hear," Schumer noted.
Schumer went on to describe the benefits of the package, noting that there are provisions aimed at rebuilding the nation's infrastructure, creating jobs, and providing individual states with fiscal relief.
In addition, Schumer stated that education will be a key aim of the package, made evident by provisions for tax credits to improve college affordability and upgrades for failing schools.
Schumer complimented President Elect Obama's handling of the package, saying that he had provided Congress with a basic outline and leaving the specific details for their discretion. He also mused that this has helped it gain popularity among his colleagues.