The American Federation of Teachers

The Blue Ribbon Campaign

http://www.aft.org/about/world/democracy-humanrights/blueribbon.cfm

 "Access to free, quality education is both a human right and part of the essential foundation for economic growth in every nation," said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. "With this toolkit, students and educators in the United States help give a voice—and hope—to the millions of children around the world who still seek access to quality education."
—Randi Weingarten, AFT president

 The American Federation of Teachers is a partner in the Global Campaign for Education, United States Chapter—the international coalition of faith groups, non-governmental organizations and trade unions supporting access to quality basic education for every child in the world by 2015. As we campaign in state capitals and school districts to protect quality education for children in the United States, we are mindful of the 72 million children in the world who do not have a classroom or teacher. With our partners in the GCE-US, the AFT is leading the Blue Ribbon Campaign in the United States, a grass-roots effort to build an understanding that education is the key to economic development, social stability and vibrant democratic governance.

Get Involved

Join the Blue Ribbon Campaign. Add to the national blue ribbon chain by mailing your links to: Global Campaign for Education, U.S., 750 First Street NE, Suite 1040, Washington, D.C. 20002. The chain will be included in a press event to mark the introduction of the Education For All Act.

Classroom Activities

AFT members across the nation are taking the campaign’s Lesson for All teaching activities into their classrooms and local community organizations, to focus attention on children in disadvantaged parts of the world who don’t have access to a quality education. Our teachers and students are creating links in the national blue ribbon chain (see Blue Ribbon Campaign classroom activity), and they are joining with others around the world, calling on politicians and policymakers to stand up for the right to a free and quality primary school education.

AFT members are integrating the Lesson for All activities into their classroom plans to help American children understand why education is so important, and what challenges disadvantaged students face when they lack access to quality schooling. This year’s Global Action Week theme focuses on the importance of education for girls and women in developing countries. The activities show students how they can bridge the gender gap and ensure girls have a fair chance at all life’s possibilities.

Take Action

Write to your U.S. representative and ask him or her to join with Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) in sponsoring the Education for All Act.