American Federation of Teachers

An Opportunity for Kids to Fight Poverty Through Creativity

Mark Shriver | Posted 11.04.2009 | Impact


Mark Shriver

With a poverty crisis affecting one in six children in America, we need new ways to raise awareness and engage more Americans in this tragic yet reversible situation. Perhaps the best resource for advocacy is kids themselves.

New Haven's Teacher Contract a Model? Not So Fast

Thomas W. Carroll | Posted 10.21.2009 | New York


Thomas W. Carroll

The contract's approach to charter schools mandates unionization, guarantees no layoffs, preserves grievance procedures, and keeps in place staff transfer rights. Reform with a union twist, one might say.

Spurring Union-Led Innovation: Public School Entrepreneurs

Randi Weingarten | Posted 10.08.2009 | Politics


Randi Weingarten

When we created the Innovation Fund last year, we asked local and state affiliates to think big, think boldly and think in ways that might go beyond their usual comfort zone -- and they did.

D.C. Mayor and City Council Blame Each Other for Shock Teacher Layoffs

Dan Brown | Posted 09.22.2009 | Politics


Dan Brown

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced that a reduction in force of public school teachers had become unavoidable, and schools are in full-on panic mode.

The 'Race to the Top' Has Already Started in St. Louis

Randi Weingarten | Posted 10.16.2009 | Politics


Randi Weingarten

The city's collaboration, support for teachers, community schools and innovative labor agreements could provide a model for the rest of us.

The National Governors Association Takes Action to Reform Teaching - With No Teacher Input

Dan Brown | Posted 08.06.2009 | Politics


Dan Brown

The National Governors Association (NGA) and its educational arm, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), are writing national educational standards for mathematics and English language arts to be implemented by America's K-12 teachers -- with virtually no input from them.

Randi Weingarten Resigns From United Federation Of Teachers

Advocate | Posted 07.26.2009 | Home


Randi Weingarten, the openly lesbian president of the American Federation of Teachers, the country's largest teachers union, confirmed on Wednesday t...

Hawkish Union Leaders Hurting Teachers and Your Kids

Stephen Zunes | Posted 06.25.2009 | Politics


Stephen Zunes

It is profoundly disturbing that AFT, a union representing educators, would elect someone so willing to distort the facts in order to pursue such a racist agenda.

There's Only One Fight Here

Randi Weingarten | Posted 04.10.2009 | Politics


Randi Weingarten

There is a difference between the last eight years of education policymaking and what occurred today -- namely that teachers' voices will be a part of developing solutions.

Thomas B. Edsall

Michelle Rhee Threatens End-Run Around Teachers' Union

HuffingtonPost.com | Thomas B. Edsall | Posted 04.02.2009 | Politics


Michelle Rhee, education chancellor of the District of Columbia -- in charge of the worst performing public school system in the nation -- has laid do...

Cuts Hurt: The Long-Term Ill Effects of Shortsighted Education Cuts

Randi Weingarten | Posted 02.14.2009 | Politics


Randi Weingarten

When the economy catches a cold, our schools get pneumonia. Today, pneumonia is spreading from state to state, and our students are suffering the symptoms.

"Reinvest, Don't Disinvest" in Education: Randi Weingarten Takes the National Stage

Dan Brown | Posted 12.18.2008 | Politics


Dan Brown

Weingarten's speech was an impassioned call to spare the hatchet -- or scalpel -- in federal funding for education.

"The Great Expectations School" Paperback Gets AFT President Randi Weingarten's Endorsement

Dan Brown | Posted 11.20.2008 | Living


Dan Brown

Classrooms are ready-made for great stories. Comprised of twenty-some children and one adult, bound by a common mission, they are intersections of you...

"Bottom Up" vs. "Trickle Down"

Randi Weingarten | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Randi Weingarten

We tried it McCain's way. We cut taxes on rich people. We waited for it to "trickle down." We let the "market" decide. Guess what? The market failed.