Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ex-Chancellor Joel Klein: It's easier to execute a killer than fire a teacher - NYPOST.com

Ex-Chancellor Joel Klein: It's easier to execute a killer than fire a teacher - NYPOST.com

Joel: Easier to ax a killer than a teacher

Last Updated: 11:12 AM, January 30, 2011

Posted: 1:03 AM, January 30, 2011

Comments: 25

It's easier to execute a killer than fire an incompetent teacher, former schools Chancellor Joel Klein said yesterday in an explosive interview.

"Five to 10 percent are not remotely capable," Klein said about educators in a sit-down with the Sunday Times of London. "It's easier to prosecute a capital-punishment case in the US than terminate an incompetent teacher."

Being an ocean away certainly loosened the lips of Klein, who made his strongest comments since stepping down in November.

Klein, who helmed city schools for eight years, boasted he had streamlined legal procedures to make it easier to fire teachers and end the "dance of the lemons" -- the shuffling of bad teachers from school to school.

JOEL KLEIN - Slams teachers union.
JOEL KLEIN
Slams teachers union.

Klein, 64, was in London at the behest of British Education Secretary Michael Gove to speak at a conference.

He slammed teacher unions for



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