Slate has an article about a new book, Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy. As the title suggests, it is about Albert Shanker and his quest to improve schools in America starting in the 60s.
In the process, Shanker transformed American education. His efforts significantly boosted teacher salaries, equalized pay between men and women, assured minimal standards in schools (not least by capping class sizes), and forced the National Educational Association, the nation's most powerful teachers' union, to embrace collective bargaining. He also encouraged his sometimes reluctant membership to embrace necessary reform; the American Federation of Teachers, under Shanker's leadership until his death in 1997, backed provisions for ousting incompetent teachers, public school choice, and the standards movement. And unlike Reuther's UAW, Shanker's union has held onto its gains. Today, there isn't a teacher in America whose life hasn't been touched by Shanker's own.
Sigh. Another book added to my list of "must reads."
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