BENNETT SAYS TEACHERS, GOVERNORS CRITICAL TO CARNEGIE REPORT'S sUCCESS - Interview

Sep 21, 2026

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William Bennett, U.S. Education Secretary, praised a new Carnegie report on the teaching profession while warning that national adoption depends on support from teacher unions and governors. He highlighted proposals such as performance-based teacher pay, a national teacher certification board, attracting minorities, and new teaching methods. Bennett linked acceptance to key convention moments for the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, and he addressed disagreements raised by AFT and NEA leaders on specific provisions.

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BENNETT SAYS TEACHERS, GOVERNORS CRITICAL TO CARNEGIE REPORT'S sUCCESS

Carnegie Forum recommendations

Convention support and reactions

CARNEGIE AND HOLMES REPORTS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER, EDUCATORS SAY

Holmes Group five-point plan

Joint reform expectations

Thursday,May 22,1986 Vol.14,No。99 # BENNETT SAYS TEACHERS,GOVERNORS CRITICAL TO CARNEGIE REPORT's sUCCESS Education Secretary William Bennett yesterday praised the Carnegie Corp.'s newreport on the teaching profession,but said it wil1 need the support of thenation's teacher unions and governors if its recommendations are to be adopted. The report outlines"many of the things we've been saying for a long time,"such as basing teacher pay on performance,Bennett said in an_interview,"butpeople didn't call it revolutionary then.Now,the Carnegle Foundation saysit,and it's revolutionary.But the credit is expendable,because the cause iseverything,"he said. -Interview- The report by the Carnegie Forum on Education and theEconomy,released last week,calls for radical changesin teacher education,including the formation of a na-tional teacher certification board,attracting minori-ties to the profession,higher pay and new teaching methods(HED,May 16)。 Bennett said whether the report's recommendations are implemented wi11 dependon how they play before this summer's annual conventions of the National Bdu-cation Association(NEA)and the American Federation of Teachers(AFT),as wellas the support given by governors at the National Governors'Association(NGA)conference in August. "We'11 have to wait and see"what happens at those meetings,the secretarysaid,although he predicted the report would be approved by the AFT membership.AFT President Albert Shanker,a member of the Carnegie task force that compiledthe report,has said he“will stake his future”on the organization's adoptionof the recommendations at the convention. In addition.Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander said lastweek the report will top the agenda at the NGA conference(HED,May 20)。 But Bennett did not know how the NEA membership would react to the report or iftheir refusal to support it would mean disaster for its implementation.NEAPresident Mary Hatwood Futrell,also a member of the Carnegie task force,signed the report,but said she disagreed with major portions of it,includingthe certification board,pay based on student performance and its idea of"lead teachers." Bennett said he agreed with the task force's call to base teacher pay on stu-dent performance,to form a national certification board and the report'semphasis on extensive liberal arts training for teaching candidates.He added,(more) May 22,1986 BENNETT SAYS TEACHERS,GOVERNORS CRITICAL TO REPORT'S sUCCESS(Cont.) however,that he favors opening the teaching profession to anyone who is qual1-fied.The task force recommended that all teacher candidates be required tohold a master's degree in education. In addition,Bennett said he disagrees with the task force's recommendation toallow teaching committees to run schools in place of principals."Al1 the re-search shows that strong principals are necessary for effective schools,"hesaid. The task force says teacher committees would be just one of many possibleschool administrative scenarios,and Bennett predicted the forum will soon re-state its intent in that area.The proposal has met strong opposition in manyquarters,including the National Association of Secondary School Principals,which said the concept“strays badly off course”with research findings oneffective schools. Bennett also said he disagrees with the task force's recommendation that thefederal government provide more financial aid to minority teaching candidates."We will never condition financial aid based on race,"he said.--Steven Teske # CARNEGIE AND HOLMES REPORTS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER,EDUCATORS SAY The Carnegie Corp.'s report on teacher education reform is expected to go hand-in-hand with the efforts of the Holmes Group,which issued its own recommenda-tions on the subject last month,say several educators. The groups'recommendations are sufficiently similar to ensure that they"wil1work together”in making changes in the way teachers are educated,said JudithLanier,chairwoman of the Hol

FAQs

What does William Bennett say is needed for the Carnegie report’s recommendations to be adopted?

He says the report will need support from the nation’s teacher unions and governors if its recommendations are to be adopted.

Which major changes does the Carnegie Forum report call for in teacher education?

It calls for radical changes including a national teacher certification board, attracting minorities, higher pay, and new teaching methods, alongside extensive liberal arts training for teaching candidates.

How do AFT and NEA leaders respond to parts of the Carnegie recommendations?

AFT President Albert Shanker supports adoption at the convention, while NEA President Mary Hatwood Futrell signed the report but disagreed with major portions including certification board, pay based on student performance, and the concept of "lead teachers."

How are the Carnegie and Holmes recommendations expected to relate according to educators?

Educators say the Holmes Group’s efforts are expected to go hand-in-hand with Carnegie’s work because their recommendations are sufficiently similar to work together in changing how teachers are educated.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Levi