Do teacher unions promote education reform?
by Sara Bernard
March 6, 2007
Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc., made some disparaging remarks about teacher unions a few weeks ago. His comments included the assertion that "what is wrong with our schools in this nation is that they have become unionized in the worst possible way. This unionization and lifetime employment of K-12 teachers is off-the-charts crazy." Though this remark has gotten him some bad press, some say Jobs is right; teacher unions can prevent principals and other management from making the best decisions for schools. Others, however, contend that teacher unions protect educators' rights and in that way effect positive change in the education community. What do you think?
Links:
[1] http://www.edutopia.org/sara-bernard
[2] http://www.edutopia.org/node/3407/results
[3] http://www.edutopia.org/unions
[4] http://www.education-world.com/a_issues/chat/chat205.shtml
[5] http://www.educationpolicy.org/files/Crisis398.htm
[6] http://www.brookings.edu/comm/transcripts/20000411a.htm
[7] http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/hosted/turn/turn.html