Delivering the message

Edward J. McElroy, the newly elected president of the American Federation of Teachers, gave one of the many speeches to delegates during last week's Democratic National Convention. He taught junior high for 10 years in Rhode Island, and then became secretary-treasurer of the 1.3 million-member national teachers group. A Rhode Island native, McElroy ran unopposed for the association's top spot and was elected July 17. In his speech at the convention on Monday, he spoke about the need to keep education on the top of the nation's priority list. ''Four years ago, education was the issue on editorial pages, in candidate debates and across breakfast tables," he said. ''And while Americans still put education high on their list of concerns today, many other issues are crowding in: the weak economy, our national security, and the health-care crisis." He spoke about the convention, the presidential campaign, and education during a recent interview with Megan Tench of the Globe staff.

What was your message at the Democratic National Convention?

The primary message was with a change, we get change in the direction of education. We'd get the resources to support the goals stated in No Child Left Behind, the high standards in NCLB which we've always supported.

What are you hoping for in the presidential candidate who ultimately wins?

I look to [John] Kerry to increase the [federal government's] commitment to education in a variety of different ways. Early-childhood education is an example. I think one of the major reforms we would need is a commitment to quality early-childhood education, and that would require resources and training. There are many places in this country where we still have half-day kindergarten, and Head Start is woefully underfunded. We've never made a commitment to that.

What do you want to have happen with education in the next four years?

A lot of things are thrown under the umbrella of No Child Left Behind. There are some differences with the law because some of the provisions are just silly. For example, when they are defining Adequate Yearly Progress, they have stated goals, or benchmarks, in what to attain for AYP, but they do not make any concession to progress. If a school is starting off way behind and makes progress, but they do not hit this artificial benchmark, they get labeled as failing schools. That is very demoralizing to teachers, not to mention the parents and families who send their children to that school. Very often these decisions are determined by people who frankly have never done any of this kind of work or spent time in the classroom. That's the kind of thing the AFT wants to change.

What is the biggest challenge educators face today given the current political climate?

If you are looking at what schools are supposed to do, they are supposed to educate children and prepare them for higher education, and work life and living a full life. That's the kind of challenge we face in an ever-changing world. The big challenge we have as educators is taking what we've learned from research and applying it. Another big challenge we face is retaining very bright people in the profession. We lose half of our people within five years. These are people who start off with a great deal of enthusiasm and somehow they lose it. And it isn't only because of pay; there are reasons, and we need to figure them out.