Offers arguments for teacher unions and collective bargaining in education. (IRT)

In order to professionalize teaching, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) supports (1) a national entry-level teacher exam; (2) expanding choices for parents, students, and teachers; (3) a professional teacher board; (4) a better career ladder; and (5) restructuring education by modifying teachers' professional levels and roles,…

Johnson's book, Teacher Unions in Schools, describes six teachers' unions' negotiated contracts and their effects on school district practices. She suggests that healthy, productive new relationships are possible between administration and faculty. (GDC)

Hiring paraprofessionals from the community is a way of providing leadership within the community. The paraprofessionals who were yesterday's welfare recipients are today earning money. (Author)

The most significant change brought about by teacher bargaining has been to enlist the massive participation of educators in politics. But the kind of political and educational leadership that will be necessary to preserve and promote public education has not yet developed. (Author/SJL)

Among teachers, initial cynicism toward reform proposals has given way to support. Teacher organizations, especially the American Federation of Teachers, have played an important role in encouraging this positive response. However, teachers remain wary of the reform movement, feeling that some of the proposed reforms would be detrimental to their…

Even where collective bargaining is well established, teachers have almost no voice in educational decisionmaking. This is likely to remain a source of teacher frustration until the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers merge into a united organization that effectively represents teachers on a national level. (JG)

The following topics of immediate concern to the American Federation of Teachers are discussed in terms of their current status and future plans for action: (1) federal aid to education; (2) bilingual education; (3) pensions, benefits, and retirement; (4) effective lobbying; (5) civil rights; (6) collective bargaining and union membership; (7)…

In this interview, Albert Shanker, president of the United Federation of Teachers of New York City, executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, and vice president of the AFL/CIO, discussed such topics as the following: his participation in a meeting of labor leaders with President Ford on September 11; the potential influence…