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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2002

Speech

Remarks by International Speaker Fred van Leeuwen to the 2002 NEA Representative Assembly

Dallas, Texas

Colleagues:

Bob, following your example, I also take a point of personal privilege. As you complete your Presidency of the NEA, I want to say how much your leadership has counted in the great and historic endeavor to achieve education for all the children of the world.

You have already described our global campaign. Let me just repeat: the objective is to bring all those children into schools, and to ensure free, quality education for them. In other words: Education for All means Public Education for All. Public responsibility for education is fundamental for equity of access and for democracy.

At last world leaders recognize that we cannot accept anything less for the developing countries. Last week in Canada, the leaders of the world's strongest economies re-committed their countries to achieve education for all children by 2015. However, they decided to spend their money elsewhere: 40 billion on the war against terrorism and 20 billion to help Russia get rid of its nuclear waste. Only 1 billion was left for help to Africa, including funds for the achievement of education for all. We do not oppose spending money on security but we should remind our leaders that the war against terrorism, the struggle against religious and political extremism begins in the classroom.

A few weeks ago Laura Bush made a fine speech at an international meeting in Paris about the importance of education for all the world's children. We all wondered if her husband has been listening!

The words are there. But the devil is in the details, and education unions have a lot of hard work to do at every level - global, national, state and local - on the details. Most of all, we want action.

The Global Campaign will continue until our twin objectives - an end to child labor, and education for all - are achieved.

Today, I am standing next to someone whose understanding of how all this links together has been the foundation for his leadership. Colleagues, as President of the NEA, and also as a member of the Executive Board of the EI, Bob has worked to make our mobilization a reality - from the global to the local.

The U.S. has a central role in helping achieve education for all - first, by the example of public schooling as a source of American strength and democracy, second, by the resources the U.S. can bring to bear, and third, by the influence of the U.S. on other countries and on the international agencies. One of Bob's achievements has been to move that U.S. role in the right direction. You have rightly pointed out, Bob, that of all rich nations America contributes the lowest percentage of its GNP to development cooperation. That should change. So must the international approach of the Bush administration. Going it alone is short term - it simply won't work very long. In today's global community, the U.S. is the natural leader. But a leader has to listen and know how to work with others!

Teachers are world citizens by nature. And the solidarity our members exercise through their unions, locally, nationally, and through EI internationally, is one of the most important ways to build better communities, and a better world.

Bob is one of the union leaders who has both a broad view of the role of the union movement, and a world view. That world view is needed today, in our governments, in our unions and in our schools.

Ten years ago, Bob Chase's quiet wisdom and down to earth, constructive, advice helped to lay the foundations for our new International. EI was founded for a purpose - to be a powerful advocate for the teachers of the world, and for the children and young people who deserve the best education we can provide. Bob has been unfailing in maintaining that vision.

Today, I want to say to you, Bob, before your people in this great assembly: 'thank you.' Thank you for EI, thank you on behalf of 311 education unions in 159 countries representing over 25 million educators, your colleagues around the world. Thank you, and may your vision prevail and become reality!

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.6 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.