241 District of Columbia public school teachers out of 4,000 are losing their jobs.  In a perfect world, all of them would lose their state funded positions in favor of the same occupation funded by those who actually want to learn and appreciate the value of a person who devotes their time, passing on knowledge to future generations.  What about the poor?  How will they afford education?  Well, considering that public schools cost more per pupil than private schools, everyone would immdiately save some money on taxes, which could be put towards private education.  Plus, there's charity, donations, alternative funding, etc., and all other aspects covered nicely by Lew Rockwell in a wonderful article  that forces one to confront that economic failure of public schools.

Now, before the haters burn their fingertips on how wonderful teachers are, there is no debate here.  The problem is not the teachers, per se.  It is the completely unnecessary, unproductive, abysmal failure of the public school system that is to blame and for which the scorn is to be directed.  The more quickly the Department of Education is razed and the public school model demolished, the more quickly we can return to being a literate, industrious and creative nation.  Teachers are mostly selfless individuals who wish to improve the lives of others; mixing them with government administrators and legislatures who are described in the exact opposite terms is a recipe for disaster. 

Don't take my word for it; check with NY State teacher of the year John Taylor Gatto here, here, and here. Or check out his books, here, here and here. 

Or, read the masterful Murray N. Rothbard on the State's education apparatus, functions and pupose.