Quote of Note: Sandra Feldman

Concerning George W. Bush's presidency: ``an administration that sees no value in public institutions, that doesn't get the connections between public schools and democracy ... that seems to suggest children will pull themselves up by their bootstraps, like cowboys.''

Sandra Feldman, who served as United Federation of Teachers union president for 11 years, died Sept. 18 after a long battle with cancer. She was 65. Feldman was UFT president from 1986 to 1997. In 1997 Feldman was elected president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the UFT’s parent affiliate. She retired as president of the AFT in 2004 for health reasons.

UFT President Randi Weingarten said: “Since February 2004, when Sandy found out she had a relapse, she fought mightily — as mightily as she always fought to help make a difference in all of our lives, and in the lives of thousands of people we represent and the hundreds of thousands of children and others we serve. Those who knew her well know how hard she worked and how much she sacrificed so others would have social justice and economic opportunity. She was a giant and will be hugely missed.”

A complete obituary of the popular UFT leader is on the AFT Web site .