Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy

by Richard D. Kahlenberg

“A thoroughly researched and engaging biography”
Wall Street Journal

“A spirited and readable biography”
Washington Post

“[A] stirring account”
Slate

“[An] excellent new biography”
The American Prospect

“A gripping portrait”
Publishers Weekly

“Absolutely must reading”
Eduwonk

“Judicious and engaging”
The Weekly Standard

"[A] fascinating biography"
City Journal

“A well-drawn portrait”
Newsday

“A fine biography [and] vivid portrait”
Jerusalem Post

“Compelling[]”
New Leader

“a richly detailed and well-researched account”
Education Next

“[An] excellent new biography”
The Washington Times

“A splendid read”
The Doyle Report

“Impressive[]”
Democracy Journal

"A Must Read Education Book of the Year"
American School Board Journal

"A Top Source on Labor Unions"
The New Republic
Events with Richard D. Kahlenberg

July 12, 2007

American Federation of Teachers, QuEST Conference, Washington DC (with Nat LaCour)

September 6, 2007

The Century Foundation, New York City (with Randi Weingarten and Greg Anrig). Click here for video highlights from the event.

September 7, 2007

The Hechinger Institute, Washington DC (with Gov. Roy Romer, Bella Rosenberg, Joe Williams, and Richard Colvin). Click here for an audiocast of this event (mp3).

September 10, 2007

United Federation of Teachers, New York City (hosted by Randi Weingarten). To read about the book party, click here.

September 20, 2007

Education Sector and New America Foundation, Washington DC (with E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Thomas Toch and Michael Dannenberg). Click here to read E.D. Hirsch Jr.'s written comments about the book. Click here to see a write up of the forum.

September 27, 2007

Marymount College, New York City.

October 3, 2007

American Enterprise Institute, Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, and Center for American Progress, Washington DC (with Sen. Lamar Alexander, Chester Finn, John Podesta, John Cole and Frederick Hess). Click here to view a video of the forum.

October 4, 2007

Albert Shanker Institute and American Federation of Teachers, Washington, D.C. (hosted by Ed McElroy and Eugenia Kemble).

October 7, 2007

Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, D.C. Click here to view an invitation to this event (PDF).

October 12, 2007

Teacher Union Reform Network, Miami, FL (with Adam Urbanski).

October 15, 2007

New York Historical Society, New York City. Cosponsored by The Century Foundation and Columbia University Press (with Joel Klein and Michael Tomasky).

October 16, 2007

Brookings Institution, Washington DC (with William Galston, David Brooks, E.J. Dionne and Rachelle Horowitz).

October 30, 2007

New York University, New York City (with Diane Ravitch, Deborah Meier, Jonathan Zimmerman and Ann Marcus).

November 7, 2007

Harvard Graduate School of Education Askwith Education Forum (with Patricia Graham, Susan Moore Johnson, and Paul Toner). Visit the WGBH Forum Network to see a video of the forum. For a write up of the forum, click here.

November 9, 2007

Winning Connections, Inc. Washington DC.

November 27, 2007

Committee for Economic Development and The Century Foundation, New York City (with Diane Ravitch, Sol Hurwitz, Richard Leone, Charles Kolb, Bella Rosenberg, Eugenia Kemble, and Randi Weingarten). Click here to watch video clips of this event. To read about the event, click here.

December 8, 2007

Education Writers Association Conference, Houston Texas.

January 29, 2008 (3:00–5:00 pm)

Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City (with Hank Levin).

February 12, 2008 (5:30–7:00 pm)

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (debate with Peter Brimelow). For more information, click here.

February 13, 2008 (4:00–6:00 pm)

Toledo Federation of Teachers, Toledo, Ohio

February 20, 2008 (morning)

Freedom House/Albert Shanker Institute/Progressive Policy Institute Forum, Washington DC (with Will Marshall, Carl Gershman, Arch Puddington, Harold Meyerson, and Herb Magidson). Click here for more information. Click here for photos and for bios, click here.

April 1, 2008 (6:00–8:00 pm)

Tamiment Library, New York University, New York City. For more information, click here.

April 11, 2008 (1:45–2:45 pm)

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Representative Assembly, New York City. To read about the forum, click here.

April 18, 2008 (9:00-9:30 am)

Ohio Federation of Teachers, Cleveland, Ohio.

April 24, 2008 (12:30–1:30 pm)

Catholic University Law School, Washington, DC

April 25, 2008 (7:00–9:00 pm)

American Federation of Teachers, Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Conference, Washington, DC. For more information, click here.

July 13, 2008 (1:00-2:30 pm)

Panelist (with Steven Greenhouse), American Federation of Teachers Convention, Chicago, IL