RA Action:

News from the NEA Annual Meeting

July 2, 2007

Clinton decries problems with NCLB at NEA RA

Education policy decisions based on evidence, not the "test after test after test" of No Child Left Behind is the way to reform schools, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) said Monday to loud applause from the 86th NEA Representative Assembly.

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NEA Members may also view an archived version of Clinton's full speech (requires log-in).

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) addressed the 86th NEA Representative Assembly in Philadelphia, calling for changes to NCLB. RA Today photo by: Scott Iskowitz

"We need a new approach," Sen. Clinton said. "One that is balanced—that puts learning, not memorizing and testing, front and center in American education again," adding, "it's time that we start supporting educators and quit pointing fingers. We should reward teachers when schools show achievement gains. We can't do this unless we finally fix what is wrong with No Child Left Behind."

In the current reality where children are taking so many tests that it's becoming the de facto curriculum, they are being robbed of a well-rounded education that includes social studies, science, art, music, and physical education. "Our children are getting good at filling in those little bubbles," she said. "But how much creativity is being left behind? How much passion for learning is being left behind?"

Her call for reforming NCLB echoed that of NEA President Reg Weaver who drew a standing ovation in his own keynote speech minutes earlier, saying that schools and children cannot be judged on the basis of one-size-fits-all testing. Clinton and Weaver's calls for effective change to NCLB went out not only to the 8,585 delegates in the hall in Philadelphia, but also to the 3.2 million members of the National Education Association nationwide—a group that Clinton said must be valued by politicians working on education issues because they are on the front lines with America's children.

Those children and educators, "are not invisible to the National Education Association, they're not invisible to me and they won't be invisible to the next president of the United States," Clinton said.

She stressed the need for universal, high-quality pre-K, to improve crumbling public schools, and to fight vouchers. Professional pay must be realized for teachers and education support professionals, she said, adding that when she's asked by others why there's a teacher shortage, she responds, "because we have a respect shortage."

When asked by Weaver about charter schools, Clinton said she supports public charter schools, but stressed that the schools have to be held to the same standards as other public schools. Also, they must not drain financial resources from other public schools, she said.

Clinton was the first of eight presidential primary candidates who will address the RA's 15,839 attendees, including 8,585 delegates, this year. Also speaking Monday: Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT). Throughout the week, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR), and Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) are scheduled to speak.

"We have the numbers, we have the courage, we have the voice," Weaver said, firing up the crowd in his own keynote address before the candidates began speaking.