Apple CEO lambasts teacher unions

[David Herren]

On Feb 17, 2007, at 10:42 AM, Matt Johnston wrote:

> http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/16717129.htm
>
> Is that the new cool ? Not only he is not done with the options  
> thing but he gets political. Maybe his view of a successful society  
> is the "cheapware for charity" thing that went on a few weeks ago ?  
> Disgusting. Please, someone, tell him to shut up.
>
> I'm surprised you disagree with:
>
> "Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs lambasted teacher unions Friday,  
> claiming no amount of technology in the classroom would improve  
> public schools until principals could fire bad teachers."
>
> As a parent I totally agree

As a teacher, I'd have to say it's more complicated than that.

The problems with education cannot be simplified by blaming the  
unionization of teachers. Before becoming a teacher I had always been  
anti-union. I even worked against a unionization effort at a previous  
position. When I decided to change my life, left technology, and  
became a teacher, I was very reluctant to join to the union, but  
ironically, my principal encouraged me to do so.

The problems with education are many: parents who don't participate  
(not suggesting that that's the case with any of you--the parents who  
don't participate A) probably aren't reading this list, and B)  
wouldn't bother to respond), a culture that has created a youth with  
no respect for themselves or others, government's lame attempts at  
"fixing" education through the No Child Left Behind Act (the single  
biggest problem to my mind), poor pay for teachers and principals, etc.

This is the wrong forum for discussing education. I'm very  
discouraged to read Job's opinions on this since he clearly doesn't  
have any idea what goes on on the front lines in today's schools. Are  
there bad teachers? Yes. Are there excellent, yet demoralized  
teachers? Yes. Are there bad principals? Yes. Are there bad parents?  
Yes. Can you blame only one of these?

No.

If anyone is interested in learning more about education from an ex- 
techie turned teacher in his retirement from tech, I'd be happy to  
respond off list.

/david

--
david herren - shoreham, vt, us na terra solsys orionarm

Candidate for 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not worship false pop  
idols."