Unions, Public Schools and Minority Children

Star Parker has documented the main problem with our education system by focusing on the unions. Unions, with their political clout with the Democrats, have thrived in our public schools, while almost disappearing in the public sector, and have succeeded in blocking any real change in the system. Because of this, many under educated minorities and others are stuck in the unending cycle of poverty. Who to blame, unions and the legislators who cater to them.

Solution: charter schools, vouchers and any other form of school choice.

Excerpt: Speaking a couple years ago about technology and education, Apple CEO and founder Steve Jobs said that technology wouldn't matter as long as you can't fire teachers.

"I believe that what is wrong with our schools in this nation is that they have become unionized in the worst possible way," he said.

Jobs likened schools to running a small business that he said could never succeed if you can't hire and fire.

A recent Wall Street Journal op-ed reported on the glowing success of charter schools in Harlem. "Nationwide the average black 12th grader reads at the level of a white eighth grader. Yet, Harlem charter students ....are outperforming their white peers in wealthy suburbs."

Yet, in 2009 the New York teachers union successfully lobbied the state legislature to freeze charter school spending and now is pushing to limit penetration of charters in school districts.Read Star Parker article here.