In a passionate speech exposing many flaws of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, AFT President Ed McElroy joined National Education Association Secretary-Treasurer Lily Eskelsen in welcoming delegates to a "historic" RA, the first since NYSUT added NEA as a national affiliation.

McElroy emphasized a political mission for educators, calling on them to work to elect a president who will change the course in 2008. "After 6 1/2 years of Bush," he said, "people are fired up - and fed up."

McElroy encouraged delegates to dedicate themselves to electing someone "who represents the honest, decent, hardworking" people of the nation.

Eskelsen said that in spite of having fought "like brothers and sisters" in the past, NEA and AFT affiliates now have a shared task to present a strong voice for public education in America.

"We are family," she said. "We share the same DNA. We believe in the mission of public schools. It's a mission that's written in our hearts."

Eskelsen, in a speech laced with humor, talked about the important role unions of education professionals can play in turning the tide against dangerous policies at the state and federal levels.