NEA Puts Hit Out on Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs takes a giant shit on the proverbial elephant in the room while speaking at an education reform conference this past week in Texas.

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

"This unionization and lifetime employment of K-12 teachers is off-the-charts crazy."

At various pauses, the audience applauded enthusiastically. Dell sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap.

Gee, that might effect business a bit Steve

"Apple just lost some business in this state, I'm sure," Jobs said.

Good for him. I don't know a lot about the guy so I can't say if he typically makes free-market arguments in public. No matter what though, it does take some balls for a CEO of a major technology company to come out publicly against the powerful teacher unions; so I give him all the credit in the world.

Some related thoughts here, from the guy who started in all, courtesy of a Reason interview in 2005 with Milton Friedman.