Despite his long-running conflict with their union, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne said he is pro-teacher.
Byrne told The Daily editorial board that his problems with the Alabama Education Association stem from his view of the union as a political organization.
“I’ll stand up for teachers,” Byrne said. “AEA is a political organization that’s holding back education and this state.”
Byrne, who faces Dr. Robert Bentley in the July 13 runoff, said he has worked well with teachers for 20 years, first as a state Board of Education member and then as chancellor of the two-year college system.
He said he talks directly with teachers when he wants an opinion on education issues.
“Individual teachers aren’t paid attention to (by state leaders),” Byrne said.
“They listen to the administrators and their group. They listen to AEA. But I feel it’s most important to listen to individual teachers.”
Byrne said he would make funding and supplying the needed resources that directly affect the classroom a priority if elected.
“We can’t control what happens in students’ families or where they come from, but we can control the quality of their education,” Byrne said.
One problem he said he hears from teachers is that some textbooks offer little help in their instruction. He said he