AppleInsider StaffApple chief executive Steve Jobs lashed out at teachers unions during an education reform conference on friday, claiming that no amount of technology in the classroom would better public schools until principals had authorization to fire bad teachers.
"What kind of person could you get to run a small business if you told them that when they came in they couldn't get rid of people that they thought weren't any good?" he asked. "Not really great ones because if you're really smart you go, 'I can't win."'
Jobs said the problem with U.S. institutions is that they have become unionized to a point where ridding public schools of poor teachers is prohibited. "This unionization and lifetime employment of K-12 teachers is off-the-charts crazy," he said.
Although Jobs drew enthusiastic applause at various intervals, he acknowledged that his raw criticisms were unlikely to be as well-received by the local school board.
"Apple just lost some business in this state, I'm sure," he said.
Dell, who reportedly sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap during Jobs' tirade, responded by saying that unions were created because employers were treating his employees unfairly.
"So now you have these enterprises where they take good care of their people," he said. "The employees won, they do really well and succeed."
During his speech, Jobs reportedly told the crowd that he envisioned future schools where textbooks would be replaced with a free, online information source that are constantly updated by experts, like the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
"I think we'd have far more current material available to our students and we'd be freeing up a tremendous amount of funds that we could buy delivery vehicles with - computers, faster Internet, things like that," he said. "And I also think we'd get some of the best minds in the country contributing."
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
293 Comments
Bad move Jobs... The education sector is where you want to plant your seeds first, to grow more customers.
I don't agree with what he said, as there are some very good teachers who would be let go if it weren't for unions. But with any union, you win some and you loose some.
Now, the real solution to the problem, is put some more money into the education sector. He's right, technology won't "Cure" the classroom, but if our government would put more money into the education system (and repeal the "No child left behind" act) then our classrooms would be benefiting our students a great deal more. I live in a state ranked 48th for per-pupil spending, and my mother is a teacher. I know our systems need an educational upgrade, especially in today's globalized market.
But again, bad move Jobs... don't attack the teachers nor the principals. If you want to attack, go for the government, and set up your own "Education Fund" or bolster what you already have to show that our education systems are in dire need of an upgrade.
...until principles were authorization to fire bad teachers.
OR "principals were authorized"
OR "principals had authorization"
Come on, Kasper.
oops, sorry for double post.
Since he spoke in Texas a few issues coming from a Texas and Poli Sci major:
1. Texas schools are teetering on bankruptcy
2. We have a teacher shortage, what's worse, fire the bad ones or have none?
3. Teachers are underpayed as it is, the last pay raise they got was federally mandated
4. State legislature is trying to do away with public schools in exchange for vouchers.
5. Governor beleives cutting taxes will solve ALL education problems.
Sure unions can overstep, but in the case of Texas teachers they are all that's keeping the schools from being a tightly wound, non-interactive prison for kids.
this is two fold....
1) yes they should be allowed to fire teachers
2) teachers should be paid more.
currently there is very little incentive for good people to turn to teaching.... in this country there is too little respect for teaching and the paid is too little to lure enough good people to do it...
we'll drop millions of dollars on bombs and the military, but are unwilling to pay teachers a decent salary.
When I have kids you can be sure that they are not going to be in the US public schools which with a few exceptions are a disgrace....
we've created an environment that ends up being an outlet for many people that graduated from university but were not great students themselves and then we give them a job that we can't fire them from for low performance....
Honestly, I've had some excellent teachers who I respect a LOT.
BUT the overwhelming majority of teachers were mediocre at best and made me dumber at worst.
I'm sure anyone that's been to university can attest that practically none of the best students ever choose to become teachers