RA Action:

News from the NEA Annual Meeting

July 2007

Presidential Primary Candidates Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Huckabee, Kucinich, Obama and Richardson, Speak at NEA Representative Assembly

(Candidate video clips and speeches will be posted as they become available, in order of their appearance.)

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

Education policy decisions based on evidence, not the “test, test, test” of No Child Left Behind is the way to reform schools, Sen. Hillary Clinton said Monday to loud applause from the 86th NEA Representative Assembly.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Clinton's full speech (requires log-in).

Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC)

Raising student achievement and ensuring high standards and accountability requires empowering educators, not relying on constant testing, former Sen. John Edwards said in a speech Monday to more than 9,000 delegates to the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Edward's full speech (requires log-in).

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) 

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd told delegates to the National Education Association Representative Assembly Monday that the No Child Left Behind act needs to be changed to reflect multiple measures of student achievement. Said Dodd, “Learning is not about filling in bubbles, it's about connecting the dots.”

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Dodd's full speech (requires log-in).

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) 

Quality public education, including professional development for teachers and access for every student to a great public school requires ending the war in Iraq and making education funding a priority, said Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich to the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Kucinich's full speech (requires log-in).

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)

Speaking to the Representative Assembly of the National Education Association, Gov. Bill Richardson said the No Child Left Behind law has been “implemented unfairly and underfunded,” penalizing educators, students and public schools.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Richardson's full speech (requires log-in).

Sen. Barack Obama, (D-IL)

No Child Left Behind has become “one of the emptiest slogans in the history of American politics,” Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said Monday to a crowd of more than 9,000 at the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Obama's full speech (requires log-in).

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Teaching is “a vital and important profession” deserving of professional-level salary and benefits and elevated respect as we seek to “educate our replacements, the next generation” in this country, said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in a speech to the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Huckabee's full speech (requires log-in).

Sen. Joe Biden, (D-DE)

Leaving no child behind requires ending the war in Iraq and turning from a war economy to one that makes education a top priority, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said in a speech to the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly.

NEA Members may also view an archived version of Biden's full speech (requires log-in).