Thursday, March 25, 2004.

H. Carl McCall, recipient of the Albert Shanker Award, with Eadie Shanker and Tom Hobart.

Education wasn't just the key that unlocked doors for H. Carl McCall, who was raised in poverty along with his five sisters by a single mother on welfare.

"It was literally the ticket for every journey, everything I have achieved," said McCall, who recalled a list of teachers who believed in him all the way back to Miss Owens, Mrs. Levy and Mr. Minton in elementary school in Roxbury, near Boston.

With that respect and personal admiration for education, McCall proudly accepted the union's highest honor: the Albert Shanker Award for Distinguished Service. Named after the co-founder of NYSUT, the award goes to those who have made extraordinary contributions to education.

McCall said the award meant a great deal to him because it was bestowed in honor of a man of "vision, tenacity and courage — a man who built the union and made it possible for you to do what you do today."

NYSUT President Tom Hobart said McCall has dedicated his life to providing hope and opportunity for students. Long before the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court decision, McCall was an advocate for more equitable education funding.

"He realized long ago that every success he has had in life is built upon his education, and he has spent a lifetime fighting to make sure every child in New York had that same door opened for them," Hobart said.

Though McCall is no longer an elected official or candidate, he made it clear he intends to keep speaking out on behalf of public education.

He minced no words about the policies of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Gov. Pataki and President Bush.

"We've got a battalion of these stone-throwers," McCall said. "They're people who see education as another expense, rather than an investment in the future."

McCall joked that "although you could have avoided some of these problems," (by electing him governor) he urged the audience to "make it up to me by making your voice heard" and elect politicians who believe in and will support public education.

"Who can better talk about what we need than teachers like you?" McCall said.