Draft of speech to American Federation of Teachers, Washington, D.C., August 22, 1984. Includes handwritten notes and diacritic marks.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/1007/thumbnail.jp

Ferraro, Geraldine

English

Fordham University School of Law

Fordham Law SchoolFLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and HistorySpeeches 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign8-22-1984American Federation of Teachers: DraftGeraldine FerraroFollow this and additional works at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984Part of the Law CommonsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign at FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. It has been accepted for inclusion in Speeches by an authorized administrator of FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. For more information, please contact tmelnick@law.fordham.edu.Recommended CitationFerraro, Geraldine, "American Federation of Teachers: Draft" (1984). Speeches. 6.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/6--AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST 22, 1984 THANK YOU, AL, FOR THAT VERY KIND INTRODUCTION. LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR OUTSTANDING PRESIDENT, AL SHANKER) AND YOUR SECRETARY-TREASURER, BOB ~ER. y1~ AND LET ME Picw'~T RANDO'./A SINGLE ~ FEDERATION TO ~ - c:-' :ad.If MENTION, NEW YORK'S OWN UNITED FEDERATION OF TEl-\CHERS, AND ITS LEADER, SANDY FELDMA:\_· J .: ft- \ '*--'-·J_,._ __ .,, _. ' ~ AS SOMB-.-eP !'01'- !tNOW, I USED TO BE TEACHER IN THE PUBLIC ,_--~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.l ~ a-a-.. SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK.BACK THEN -- wfiMP'\nEODORE ROOSEVELT WAS-FRi!lBIDEN'f' ~HE~S DIDN"T H-1\VE MANY RIGHTS. WE DIDN'T HlWE THE LEVERA.GB TO SHAPE L:CG:':~LZ\Tim~.,. WE SOMETIMES BARELY AFFECTED PUBLIC POLICY. ALL THAT IS CHANGED TODAY - IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE OF YOU,/ I -/ THIS U~I0N f AND THE AFL-CIO. / I A.."1 A BELIEVER IN UNIONS. UNIONS ; I ARE GOOD FOR T.S...;~HERS. THEY'RE GOOD FOR SCHOOLS. AND THEY'RE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY~ I AGREE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATIPN THAT WE SHOULD SU~ORT THE UNIO;;--;;VEMENT IN ~D~ auz/uNLIKE MR. REAGAN,/ I BELIEVE WE SHOULD ALSO SUP;;;;, IT AT HOME. -- ~ -:,_.;-NORMALLY, I BEGIN A SPEECH BY SAYING I'M DELIGHTED TO HERE, BUT TODAY IS DIFFERENT// AFTER THIS PAST WEEK; AM THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH THE A.F.T. \ AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS - 2 -TO~Y IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF THIS SAMPAIGN.!' WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO DISCUSSING THE ISSUES,~WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY./ STARTING TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR CASE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.~·AND I HAVE SOME N~l,S FOR 'l;ff~ EXPE~rs AND Lv..l\l ~'JC- -\h.L- -,t>..Jl1..:> ~ ~v~~Jf. ~v.>-- ~ POLLSTERS: E-OWli.: NOV:EWBER, v~:E: I RE GO-G To WIN. ~ .... ~I (.)........_ ~ 1-~ '--I (,i - .+-~ "'-a C... '-.] I THE OVERRIDING ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS THE FUTURE. ~ 1\ND THE CENTRAL ~pTION IS, WHICH CANDIDATE CAN LEAD US THERE. ISJ3:BaIEV6a~F!9iT THE CANDIDATE TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA IN THE FUTURE IS THE ONE WHO BELIEVES WITH ALL HIS HEART IN EDUCATION. ~· t:x, t I 0 y\. S Lj 1-r' ;/ AND THAT CANDIDATE.rs NOT RONALD REAGAN' IT'S WALTER MONDALE.ti WHEN WE NEED TO DEVELOP THE SCIENCE AND OUR CHILDREN NOW MORE THAN ~ t;.. \- rJ.--.. t? .Al: rt"' ~~i:!~, THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION ELIMINATE~THE NATIONAL "' SCIENCE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM TO S'J$NGTHEN 'l'~' ~- SC~ AND MATH. Cl WHEN !IG1!, INTEREST RATES AND THE RECESSION THREATEN ~~L~ 1 ABILITY TO FINANCE A COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN,ATHE }762, t-r II REAGAN ADMINISTRATIO/\CUrrc)STUDENT AID - AND WOULD HAVE GUTTED IT COMPLETELY IF CONGRESS HADN'T STOOD IN THE WAY. AS THE NATION WAS TURNING AGAIN TO THE QUEST FOR EDUCAT ::: ONAL "t° EXCELLENCE ~ CUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S SHARE OF PUBLIC CHOOL FINANCING TO THE LOWEST LEVELS SINCE THE 1960's. \ -. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS - 3 -THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM AMERICAN EDUCATION FACES, NOR SHOULD IT. IN OUR NATION, EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE HANDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, /'\ AND THAT IS WHERE IT SHOULD REMAIN. (3 .. J-- ~ ~ ~~ Bil~ ~-~_!'ilW7F •ro ~k,~,..,,-~s- A NAUONAL PRO,MEM ANIT I'~ S~!O~.:~~.?~ ~ ~~~L STRAl'EGi'., ~ · FRITZ MONDALE f~ll ~ STRATEGY~ AND STARTING ON ~ CL JANUARY 20, 1985, THIS FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER IS GOING TO WORK WITH HIM AS VICE PRESIDENT TO REBUILD THAT PARTNERSHIP FOP 5ycFrrgNCfi THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE. .ii~ WIL!r. ,,___-l).r'- v-LA /,.4-' . RAISE THE QUALITY AND PRESTIGE OF TEACHING WITH BETTER PAY ... LESS PAPER WORK ... BETTER TEACHER TRAINING ... . NEW EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE, MATH AND LANGUAGES . . . AND A NATIONAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE . .;r.A.· ~ i·l vJ. INVEST IN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH IN OUR COLLEGES WITH ADEQUATE SUPPORT FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION ... BETTS~ LABORATORIES AND EQUIPMENT. ~~,L~~_._ ASSURE EVERY CHILD A FAIR CHANCE WITH ~Pt!mS'f~ANDICAPPED EDUCATION, 5 lBf:tJ. IN~L, HEAD-START, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCE~ENT. ~~ Lf ~ . ASSURE THAT THE CHILDREN OF AVERAGE WORKING FAMILIES CAN AFFORD A COLLEGE EDUCATION WITH INCREASED STUDENT AID AND WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS - 4 -. ~ -~-~- --~ - -- . . - .. - ------- --'~ / ~ STRENGTHEN BAS IC RESEARCH. WHEN IT COMES TO RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY} WE WANT AMERICANS TO DISCOVER IT FIRST, APPLY IT TO THE PRODUCTION LINE FIRST, AND SELL IT FIRST. THIS IS A BROAD, NEW NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. IT IS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT IF WE WANT A STRONGER AMERICA WITH ,- - --A SURE DEFENSE AND A PRo)eEROUS ECONOMY -- EDUCATION IS THE BEST INVESTMENT WE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE . .\>~~ EVER~ DOLLAR OUR COUNTRY SPENDS ON EDUCATION RETURNS $6 TO THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT. EVERY $4 WE SPEND TO GET STUDENTS TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL RETURNS $7 IN PUBLIC REVENUES. ,, BUT MORE INVESTMEN~NE WILL NOT DO THE JOB. STUDENTS MUST WORK HARDER. PARENTS MUST TURN OFF THE T.V .. TEACHERS MUST HAVE BETTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. ."\ND STANDAIWS THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION MUST BE RAISED. THE A.F.T. HAS BEE~N A LEADER IN THAT FIGHT FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO JOIN THAT FIGHT -- NOT RUN AWAY FROM IT, ~ LIKE SOME PEOPLE fie TODAY. THE OTHER THE FACT THAT· MEETINGS. MR. /\ HADN'T EVERf HE THIS: WE IN THE WHITE HOUSE BY ASKED ON ANSW~Y ASKING ASLEEP AS DS IN s A..~RICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS :-"'\'No~ . e. ~ LEARNING/\.TAKE PLACE WHEN TEACHERS THREATENED. WE ASK A GREAT DEAL OF ~~M. ~IN ~ HANDS. AND WE DON'T PAY ~ AS MUCH - 5 -ARE PHYSICALLY ('~~ WE ?UT OUR ~~RB  AS • DESERVE. THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS PROTECT ~ AS A FORMER TEACHER AND A MOTHER, I SUPPORT YOU ALL THE WAY IN TRYING TO REMOVE VIOLENCE, DRUGS, AND DANGER FROM OUR CLASSROOMS. THESE ARE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT LIE BEFORE PUBLIC EDUCATION ~ I TODAY. HOW DO -JI' OPPONENTS PLAN TO MEET THEM? LISTEN TO THE REAGAN PLATFORM DRAFTED IN DALLAS. "THE FEDERAL "ROLE IN EDUCATION," IT TELLS US, "SHOULD BE LIMITED." SO MUCH FOR ACTIVE LEADERSHIP. -- - --EDUCATION IS PRIMARILY A LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE PROBLEMS WE FACE ARE NATIONAL. AND THEIR SOLUTION REQUIRES A NATIONAL ROLE. ~ -WHEN SPUTNIK SSLIHI~ CS TO ACTION IN THE 1950 'S AND 60' s, OUR RESPONSE WAS NOT A "LIMITED" ONE. WE PASSED . TITLE I, HEAD -~ START, BILINGUAL, MORE STUDENT ASSISTANCE, AND MQR,.E HELP FOR BASIC RESEARCH. ~ -- .. \.__VJ { l1o< .. TODAY, IN THE CHANGING ECONOMY I,) ·~L ·.'l'HE DEMANDS IT WILL PLACE UPON OUR SKILLS, WE FACE A CHALLENGE TO OUR TALENTS ~ JUST AS GREAT AS THEN. ~ WE NEED TO RESPOND BY DECLARING THAT THIS GENERATION WILL BE THE BEST EDUCATED GENERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY. AND THAT TAKES NOT A LIMITJf> ROLE BUT AN ~·· ALL-OUT COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, LED BY FRITZ MONDALE. AND LET ME ADD: EVEN AS WE ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE, WE MUST NEVER ,...--") SACRIFICE EQUITY. A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE .... TO ~ STOP WASTING~YOUNG MINDS TODAY IN INNER-CITY AND LOW-INCOME AREAS, I BELIEVE WE MUST STOP SPENDING SO MUCH ON THE ARMS RACE, AND START INVESTING MORE IN THE HUMAN RACE. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS - 6 -IN THE~GHT FOR .THE FUTURE, EDUCATION IS THE FIRST WEAPON BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE IS MUCH WE MUST DO TO KEEP FAITH WITH THE NEXT GENERATION. .JP.0114¥ 131StfTyjii,ui'f ·we ·aa Aflmt"""!'HE L~iT c• LET ME MENTION JUST THREE ADDITIONAL TASKS, BESIDES BETTER EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN. THIS FIRST, WE MUST CONTROL THESE RUNAWAY DEFICITS. ADMINISTRATION IS ALL FOR BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENTS ~"' ~; V1 \.< _$ BUT "NI "6 FROM THE BOLD ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO A BALANCED BUDGET. IT'S ALL FOR PREACHING OPTIMISM -- BUT IT REFUSES TO GIVE US A PLAN. NOT LONG THEN MR. BUSH ......... ,....... AGO, MR. REAGAN SAID fHE, WOULDN'T RAISE TAXES. ~ G-) vo.AJ \J-..,., ~p~ ~ ~ ~SAID THEY WOULDA AND THEN MR. ~AGAN SAID THAT WHILE HE HAD NO PLANS TO RAISE TAXES, HE MIGHT De 60 iillYlfllfY. WHY ALL THE DANCING AROUND? AMERICANS EXPECT STRAIGHT TALK FROM THEIR LEADERS. IF DEFICITS ARE BAD FOR INTEREST RATES, THEN LET'S REDUCE THEM. IF REDUCING DEFICITS TAKES MORE TAXES, THEN LET'S RAISE THEM. AND IF OUR LEADERS WON'T LEVEL WITH US, THEN LET'S REPLACE THEM. SECOND, WE WON'T BUILD A STRONGER FUTURE UNLESS WE BUILD IT TOGETHER. IF THERE'S ONE THING ABOVE ALL ELSE WHICH THIS CAMPAIGN STANDS FOR, IT'S THE HOPE THAT OLD BARRIERS ARE COMING DOWN, AND NEW DOORS ARE OPENING UP. I WANT TO REALIZE THAT HOPE. LET'S ELECT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL ENFORCE OUR CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS. '1tifiKLkrf' S M)1Kjf Tf1E Eltbl\ PmtT-011 'i'llB FllNllAllBll'filb DAW 01' '!'!IE U ND • ./),,,..,,>.._ oJ! l:i., ~tf;....v 1 , ~ ~~ ~' ~ l ~ "'/ t>~ S) I ~- L ~ -t" ~ ~ "tW O\..~~ +t.,. ~ '"'~ ~ ct1-A--. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS - 7 -FINALLY, LET'S VOTE. INCREASING REGISTRATION IS ALSO A ~Vc\11!.L-TOOL FOR BUILDING THE PIGWSiRE. YOU'VE MADE IT THE. NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THIS CONVENTION, AND YOU'RE RIGHT. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I'VE MET PEOPLE WHO TELL ME THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES, THEY WANT TO VOTE. THERE'S A NEW INTEREST, AN ENERGY, AN ENTHUSIASM COMING TO LIFE IN AMERICA. PEOPLE WANT TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION I OF THIS COUNTRY. ----THEY'RE SAYING THE TIME TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE IS NOT LATER./ IT'S NOW. , THE TIME TO REDUCE DEFICI'I!SIS NOT LATER.1 IT'S NOW. ( THE TIME TO RAISE STANDARDS AND EDUCATE CHILDRE~IS NOT LATER. IT'S NOW.' THE TIME TO STOP THE ARMS RA.CE ·IS NOT LATER. IT IS NOW. THE TIME TO REGISTER NEW VOTER~ -;;-T ~ATER.}T -~S -;;;;_ AND THE TIME TO WAGE THIS CAMPAJ;gN FOR A BETTER FUTURE I~ ~ ~;~::~ y:: ;:RN~:~R ENDORS~NTbow ~:.~:o ::w:: • ~ -THIS ELECTION,) llll!'i P~E~ ot.iifim·r Hf"'iitie wl&E !iaitis?. ~ ~~ - N (S\,AJ -~ 

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American Federation of Teachers: Draft

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