The first day at the RA, like most days at the RA, is a nonstop parade of formalities and business items. The highlight of the day is usually the keynote address delivered by the president.
Reg Weaver鈥檚 speech this year鈥攈is last as president鈥攆ocused a good bit on himself and on major challenges facing 糖心动漫vlog today. He recalled his beginnings in Danville, Ill., his motivations, and the legacy he leaves behind for the nation鈥檚 largest teachers鈥� union at a time when the No Child Left Behind law is awaiting reauthorization and a new president will enter the White House.
He talked about how membership has risen by 22 percent since he took over as president in 2002.
He talked about how the country is on the wrong track, citing the government鈥檚 handling of Hurricane Katrina, fears about the food supply and the soaring price of gasoline. 鈥淥ur priorities must change,鈥� he warned.
He also took the opportunity to blast the 鈥渆lephant in the room,鈥� the Iraq war, for which, he said, the youth of America 鈥渉ave paid a dear price in blood鈥� as well as in education dollars.
But the highlight of the speech, which clarified Weaver鈥檚 motivations in opposing the focus on testing in NCLB, was an anecdote he recounted about how, as a high school student, he took a test at the department of employment security in Illinois in hope of getting a job. He was told by the person who interpreted the results that the only jobs he would ever qualify for were those that would require the use of his hands.
鈥淏ut I didn鈥檛 let that stop me,鈥� Weaver said. 鈥淚 knew even then that my life could never be defined by one test.鈥�
鈥淭oday, I know that no child鈥檚 future should be defined or limited by one high-stakes test,鈥� he added, to thundering applause.