Joel Klein Compares Teachers to Murderers

Who's easier to get rid of, a teacher or someone arrested for first degree murder? According to former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein, "It's easier to prosecute a capital-punishment case in the U.S. than terminate an incompetent teacher."

Of New York City's teachers, Klein said, "Five to 10 percent are not remotely capable," and he reiterated his belief that unions are more interested in protecting "incompetent workers" than educating children.

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Klein, who left his job as head of the nation's largest school district last November to work for Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp, made his harsh remarks about teachers to London's Sunday Times. He was in town to attend the inaugural Free Schools Conference as a guest of the British Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Free schools are the U.K. version of charter schools. Klein also warned the Brits that teachers unions fear charter school expansion because the charters take away their "guaranteed client base."