Unions Kill the schools by: Outdated Teaching Bias Education NOT Real Time Ed NO Voc Ed NO adult Voc Ed Dumb school Bds Crying for pay raises Pour Money into schools & SAT drops. NO Incentives. NO Morale boosting & we wonder why we cant compete in the Global Economy. Thanks Steve Jobs. Blame the Unions CTA, NEA etc. Hold them accountabe.

A company’s CEO is a great reflection of the foundational beliefs a company holds… in this case, I will be interested in seeing what comes next. In what ways will Apple take an active role in improving today’s public schools?

Unions kill our schools? I’m a high school English teacher, and having a strong union is one of the things that keeps me interested in teaching. They give us the power to be independent and to speak out. If anything, strong unions encourage good teachers to stay. The average teacher quits after 3 years, and my guess is that the average bad teacher quits after a year. Believe me, being less than adequate at teaching just makes the experience miserable for everyone. Of course, there are bad employees everywhere, including Apple, but people like to pick on teachers because it’s easier than actually spending the money needed to make our schools better.

I am in a union against my will. Unions go against democracy and survival of the fittest. They let stragglers that do not contribute much to stay around and slow down progress. I find it funny is that the people that are for unions are the ones that are not trying to better themselves but would rather everything remain the status quo. If I could find a legal/legitimate reason to dump my union I would do so in a heartbeat. Unions and republicans are what is bringing this country down.

Honestly, I’d rather see Steve put his creative thought into how to mititgate the e-waste problem caused by the designed obsolescence of iPods. (See the latest issue of Mother Jones) My parents were teachers, and I’d say it’s a toss-up whether the net impact of teacher’s unions is positive or negative. The unions do impede some things, but the lack of respect and autonomy accorded teachers is a more significant problem. I rather doubt that would improve if the unions were gone.

I think this website is doomed…if this is the extent of the commentary on an anti-union statement by Jobs at a site that supposedly might attract progressives.

jkrumm: “Of course, there are bad employees everywhere, including Apple, but people like to pick on teachers because it’s easier than actually spending the money needed to make our schools better.”

1) There are bad employees at Apple. The difference, as Steve Jobs points out, is that he has the ability to fire the bad ones – and reward the good ones. At unions, he argues, you can’t do that.

2) I don’t think anyone wants to pick on teachers. Some want to pick on ther ‘handlers’ – the union bosses (who by the way make much more than any teacher ever does – and who spend a HUGE % of union dues on politics etc). They are the problem, not the teachers.

3) I don’t think just throwing $ at the problem solves the problem. Just as if you had a company where bad employees and bad bosses were not allowed to be removed – the more money you throw that organization the more money you lose with little improvement. There are some of the worst performing schools getting some of the most per/student $ and they still perform awfully.

jkrumm: “I think this website is doomed…if this is the extent of the commentary on an anti-union statement by Jobs at a site that supposedly might attract progressives.”

You think this site is doomed because some people disagree with you? Because 11 out of 12 people (actually it’s probably not that number – not sure what the number is) are concerned about american education and believe unions have some responsibility? Or that, whatever you believe about unions, value Jobs for being bold enough to start a discussion that every other major CEO (like Dell’s) is afraid to start? That seems pretty narrow-minded, no?

Don’t worry. I’m sure more pro-union ‘progressives’ (progess toward what – the status quo in education?) will join this community over time. I don’t doubt that at all.

Hopefully though – this community can be one where ideas trump labels. Hoping for a lot – but possible.

When people repeat that “It’s the bosses” or union leaders that are the problem, I think they are just relying on media and right-wing think tank stereotypes rather than personal experience for their opinions. One of my best teacher friends also works for the union, and he is a leading advocate of school change, just the opposite of what you guys are talking about. I think if you did a little research you’d find that to be common, that the people actively involved in teachers’ unions are the very people working to make schools better.

I think this website is doomed not because people disagree with me (which is normal on the internet) but because of an overall severe lack of participation, and because with so few progressives an anti-union statement by a CEO gets a positive rating! i couldn’t believe it when I saw it.

You expect this comment (lauding someonone with the guts to speak truth to power) to be shot down? Isn’t that what you are saying?

You and I probably agree – teachers who work hard to make change and do the right thing should be applauded, encouraged… even helped. They should even be rewarded! And the bad one’s shouldn’t.

That’s exactly the point Jobs was making. Unions don’t allow principals to do this. And it’s that specifically that needs fixing. And no amount of money or technology or Apple computers can change that.

Jobs is just putting his finger on something that has long been apparent to students and teachers. Tenured teachers have the propensity to become lazy, bored and beaten down by the system. The politics in our school system is amazing. I think that many teachers start out with good intentions and just get tired of dealing with the politics, obstacles, outdated curriculumn and lack of parenting faced in our school systems. On top of it, bad teachers can’t be replaced and the students suffer.

Rock on Steve… Tell’em how it is…

Although I admit I don’t understand why teacher tenure exists, and I agree that throwing money at a problem doesn’t solve it, unions are essential for the protection of workers, plain and simple. Getting rid of bad teachers would be great, but good luck finding good ones to take their places if there’s no union protection. Being a teacher is as stressful and time-intensive (if you’re doing your job right) as being a CEO, and you’re expected to be fabulous in your very first year without (in most cases) sufficient mentorship and training. Our “best and brightest” in most cases choose an easier job unless they see teaching as a “calling.” For most professionals, being able to support ther families is their calling. Just imagine how many talented young professionals would compete to be hired by failing schools if there was a significant salary involved. When teachers feel like martyrs only the strongest (not necessarily the most qualified) survive. Paradoxically, the richest school districts can afford to hire the best teachers while poor areas (who need the good teachers the most) can’t. Good teachers are not waiting in the wings to fill the ranks of tenured bad teachers. Instead, they are working in professions where they are valued.