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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release February 24, 1997

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Hillary and I were deeply saddened today to learn of the passing of Albert Shanker.

Al spent his life in pursuit of one of the noblest of causes: the improvement of our public schools. Since 1964, he led educational organizations -- first as the President of the United Federation of Teachers in New York and for twenty-two years as the President of the American Federation of Teachers. He challenged the country's teachers and schools to provide our children with the very best education possible, and made a crusade out of the need for educational standards. He believed, as I do, that children should notgo through school without learning the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Eadie, and his family tonight.

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