Steve Jobs: Break Teacher’s Union or No Hope for School Reform

[William Korach]

25 October 2011

By Bill Korach

In the new bio Steve Jobs,  by Walter Isaacson, Jobs says: ” Until teacher’s unions were broken, there was almost no hope for educational reform.” By any measurement, Jobs made Apple a phenomenal success. Apple’s market value is greater than any company on the face of the earth including Exxon. Apple’s products are hot and the Apple stores are packed even the middle of a sluggish economy. Apple has been a huge contributor to the public school usage of computers and access to the internet, millions of Mac’s have been distributed to public schools. So when Jobs attacks unions for protecting bad teachers and preventing principals from hiring good teachers, he speaks from profound experience. Jobs tended to support Democrats, but on this issue, he was pure Tea Party.

Since the founding of the teacher’s unions and the Department of Education in the 1970′s, a creature of the teacher’s unions, educational spending has skyrocketed, while student performance has plummeted. This year the DOE will spend $80 Billion, and not one cent will educate a single student. Instead, the DOE mandates politically correct textbooks, supports UN global mandates over the Constitution and provides political cover for the unions. Last year, high school seniors scored the lowest SAT’s in history. The performance of American students in math and science ranks 25th among developed nations according to a 2010 McKinsey study.

Textbooks that trash America’s Judeo-Christian Heritage, promote Islamic propaganda, a socialist welfare, and UN’s agenda 21 are a product of the unholy marriage of the DOE and the union. Break the union stranglehold on American schools or continue to watch the deterioration of our schools and our country. Steve Jobs was right about more than Apple, he was right about America’s schools. We should heed his advice. Read more about our failing schools in The Report Card

 

[Steve Tikas]

@Mrs. Parrett

 

My daughter is in 7th grade you said that in 7th grade they teach world geography that is not history.  My daughter did say that she had geography in school.  Geography is not history so even by your own statements she is not learning history.  If she was in 8th grade I probably wouldn't be writing this.  As far as her taking a history class in 5th grade and now that you mention it I do remember her taking history at some point in the past.  Three years out of 12 that history is taught is sad and I don't consider geography or civics classes a proper replacement for history classes.  Again the fact that she doesn't remember anything about US history that she took two years ago doesn't say much for what she is taught. 

 

I do go to open houses and parent teacher conferences when I am not at work.  My wife is primarily responsible for that type of thing because she is a stay at home mother but during the years I have been in her life I have gone to as many as I can.  My wife has also volunteered at her school that she is in school so we are involved in her school.  I say years I have been in her life because I have only been in her life for about four years now.  I'm not her real father I don't want you thinking I'm some sort of dead beat dad since you have already implied that I don't care about her schooling and that I'm teaching her bad habits I don't need to give you another reason to make accusations like that.

 

I will say again you have much more faith in the school system then I do.  I do not hide from my kids that I dislike the government, public school (and by the way I don't blame the teachers I blame the educational system) and I think that they do a bad job teaching kids.  As far as your accusation that by not running up to the school and getting on the principle and teachers like you did I'm somehow saying that school is not important is a gross misstatement.  I tell all my children that learning is one of the most important things that they can do in the world and I don't just say it I live it I'm constantly learning and studying different subjects. 

 

As far as personal responsibility that is preached in my house from before they are old enough to understand the concept.  My kids are told that their actions are their responsibility even my five year old is not allowed to tell me, as an example, that his room is messy because his friends had been there.  That is not an excuse that is his room, his stuff, his responsibility.  Without knowing anything about me or how my wife and I run our house you make some pretty bold, and incorrect, statements. 

 

Regardless of my views on school they know that they are to go to school pay attention and respect the teacher, follow the rules, and get their work done as they are instructed. My giving my children extra assignments is teaching them that sometimes you have to do things on your own without  running around trying to pawn stuff off on someone else that you are able to do yourself.  I'm teaching my children to be self sufficient and not to rely on the government.

 

She has been in 'A' schools almost the entire time I have been in her life and I'm not impressed.  Here is my analogy of saying you go to an 'A' public school it is like saying you have the best smelling pile of poop.  It still stinks it just doesn't stink quite as much.  People like you that defend the public school system even though we continue to slip when rated against other kids is part of the problem.  Keeping the status quo in our education system is going to get us nothing but lower ratings when measured against other countries. 

[Barry Lee Phillips]

Two of my oldest grandchildren were home schooled by their mother as are their siblings.

My daughter and her husband decided long ago to sacrifice additional income and a lesser life style to ensure their children were educated without the government influenced curricula that permeates school systems throughout this country.

Both older children graduated and as far as I can tell are better educated than their peers in the same age group.  One holds down a full time job and was recently promoted.  The other child is pursuing her interest in photography and is mastering skills at the intermediate level.  Their social skills were not neglected during their education at home.

All of the children learn U.S. history from its inception to the current day.  They all study the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution when they have advanced sufficiently to understand both documents.  They all take mathematics and science courses.  Plus they get history lessons about patriots from me when I see them.

Since the family is also church oriented, they have also been taught morals by their parents.  Both parents lead by example.  The entire family has an outstanding work ethic.  They have to -- there are eleven of them!

[Chuck Morrison]

See, it boils down pretty much to parental involvement in the child's education, not how many millions of dollars are thrown at facilities and administration drones.

[Steve Tikas]

@Mrs. Parrett

 

Even from your own information you provided there was nothing about history.  Well I guess talking about the founding documents would count but other then that it was all civics related.  Maybe they haven't got to it yet but I still think it is sad that when I mentioned the major things in History my daughter could not tell me anything about any of them.  So if they do teach them they do a really crappy job of it.  My daughter is not the best student in the world but she isn't stupid and she would at least be able to tell me something or at minimum have a lightbulb go off in her head when I mentioned one of those topics.

 

I didn't say I had a problem with calculators for any type of math.  I even said I first started using a calculator when I got into algebra in high school and I don't see that as being a problem.  My problem is kids being encouraged to use a calculator for simple math.  You talk about speed and proficiency on a calculator like they are launching a rocket to the moon or something.  It is not hard to use a calculator especially if you understand that concept of the problem and all you are doing is basic math.  That changes when you get into higher levels of math but again I'm talking about basic math right now.  Again I think a calculator on basic math is doing our kids a disservice you obviously feel differently.

 

Your comment about kids get a good education as long as the parents are involved.  That is the ONLY way that kids get a good education.  You also seem to have more faith in the system then I do.  You talked about going to the teacher or the principle to change an assignment.  I don't do all of that if I think something is lacking I give my children extra assignments at home.  I'm not responsible for the schools curriculum, other people's kids, or anything else that doesn't involve my kids so going to the school is a waste of time when I can just tell them I want them to do something.  I have lost all faith in the public school system and I will not try to fix it and as soon as I can manage it I will be taking my kids out of school and homeschooling them.

[H W Schroeder AXCS(AW) USNRET]

OK, time for me to chime in on the education system in Duval County. When I retired from the Navy in 1986, I built a home in Mandarin. My daughter was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend neighborhood schools at Mandarin Oaks Elementary and Mandarin Middle. She was also able to be part of the 'year round program' for elementary/middle schools and have 6 weeks between semesters and grade levels. At the time, it was a cost savings to the county which didn't have the resources to build new schools just because builders were saturating Mandarin and the Southside with housing developments. I recall the screaming and yelling from parents with children in high school which didn't have the year round program. Rather the look at the overall benefits they screamed about not having traditional vacation opportunities during the summer--but the bottom line was it was an option and the system allowed parents to opt out of the program. Moving on, in the First Grade, she was given the opportunity (along with several other students) to test for a 'Gifted Program' and to enroll in the year round program. I built a good foundation for her in Math and basic study skills. I met EVERY TEACHER from both schools and even had 1 of her Algebra Teachers in the 7th Grade to trade her daughters for mine to teach them Algerba! I guess I did a good job. Upon graduation from the 8th Grade, she was selected to attend Stanton College Prep--yes she was a A student in both schools so far and elligible to attend Stanton. This didn't happen because there simply not enough seats available at Stanton. A suggestion was offered that she apply to Paxon School for Advance Studies! This was a great idea because at that time, the staff at Paxon had designed the Stanton Program! This included Jim Williams the Principal at Paxon at that time. She benefited tremendously receiving a World Class Education from great teachers. When she graduated in 2003 with her IB Degree, nationwide ranking was published of the IB/AP high schools in the United States. The ranking (based on IB/AP application and success rate) listed Stanton and Paxon as the number 2 & 3 high schools in the country! The number 1 school was a private high school in Michigan! Imagine having 2 of the top high schools in the country in the same state--much less in the same county! Some history here. I recall the school system here having trouble during the Herb Sang tenure! Wars between the DCTU and the School Board gave me some angst about being involved with the system here. Those issues being corrected, the schools and students benefited. Were there bad teachers then--probably. Was there misguided parental involvement then--probably. But I think among all the issues, State and Federal, there is still one of the best opportunities available here in Duval County! It takes involvement and ATTITUDE. I didn't originate the following statement, but I've used it many times and it doesn't only apply to education. If you want to be successful, you'll find a way! If you don't, you'll find and excuse! I did tailor this to save time and try to not be accused of being verbose. I left out some anecdotal stories of her 12 year experience in Duval County schools and there were many. I'd be more then happy to share some if anyone is interested. By the way, my daughter Graduated from FCCJ with her 2 year RN degree and last December, earned her BSN from Florida State. She completed her BSN program ON LINE while holding down a full time job and dealing with major cancer issues with her Mother during this time as well!

[Barry Lee Phillips]

Steve Jobs was right.

Yet everybody complains about the state of public (government) education and does nothing about it.  The Republicans have had the opportunity in the past to get rid of the Department of Education and did nothing.

When is this going to change?

It is going to change when we elect committed conservatives to office who are willing to take the heat from those entrenched in the current educational system.  These people will not go quietly and will fight tooth and nail to keep their positions of privilege and power.  Remember Wisconsin?  You ain't seen nothing yet.  Think Wisconsin on steroids at a national level.

Those of us who have educated ourselves to the reality that America has been dumbed down over the years see this every day.  You only have to look at the "educated" useful idiots occupying Wall Street to see our future if we do not drastically change the way children are educated in this country.

[Steve Tikas]

@Mrs. Parrett

 

I'm not going to speak for everyones child I'm just telling you about mine personally and that is not the case in the class she is in.  If my daughter was taking advanced placement type classes, or one of the other situations you mentioned, I would have a different view on things but when she is asked a question about budgeting and she uses a calculator I think there is a problem with that.

 

I wouldn't call social studies and history the same thing.  Here is the Wikipedia definition of Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies.^[1]

 

Doesn't sound like history to me. Also if you read what you posted from the FLDOE site it says nothing about history.  It is all about civics and how government works.  I will say I was happy to see that they at least mentioned our founding documents.

 

I'm sorry you can defend the school system all you want but it doesn't do a good job of teaching kids.  Look at our rankings in the world and how they fall on a pretty consistent basis and explain to me how they do a good job.  The answer is always to pump more and more money into it with no viable sign of improvement.  Only government could get away with that level of incompetence and get away with it.

[chris vaca]

People are always surprised what they get wrong

[Doyle]

25.

Slapped myself upside my head on two I got wrong. DANG, I knew that!

Picky point: Although I answered 10 correctly, the correct answer actually wrong.

We declared our independence from England, not Great Britain. Great Britain didn't exist yet.

(Enjoyed the test.)

[chris vaca]

In case any of you are interested I just had a book come out available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles it's a book of political humor. Here's the link.

http://www.amazon.com/America-Society-Gone-Wrong-ebook/dp/B005OTDQL...