Governor Christie has gone too far

What an idiot. How do these people get elected?

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From your link:

Gov. Chris Christie took his fight with the state’s largest teachers union directly to the kids today, telling a room full of Trenton students their schools were short on supplies because of greedy teachers union officials — not state aid cuts.

"There’s a lot of really great teachers in the state," said Christie. "But their union cares more about how much they get paid than they care about how well you learn."

Christie spoke to about 100 teens at a Trenton Boys & Girls Club, which he visited in 2009 and promised to return to after the election. The kids asked pointed questions , most often about the state of their schools and cuts in state aid to Trenton, which lost $43 million.

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Updated On: 11/6/10 at 06:15 PM

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Updated On: 8/23/13 at 07:27 PM

I gather Jason teaches neither reading comprehension or advocacy.

On a more serious note - I understand Christie has been draconian, and there have been serious issues with the choices he has made so far as Governor. But if anything, from an outsider's perspective, thread's like this which either intentionally or just sloppily mistake facts makes Christie seem more sympathetic and not less.

And Joe, FWIW, if that was what Jason had written, I would not have bothered to even post in the thread.

Updated On: 11/6/10 at 08:09 PM

Close, but not quite Jason.

He did not say "partying" - he said "having a party." Where I come from, those are two very different terms. Maybe they are synonymous in NJ but they are not where I come from.

I am sorry your union leadership is losing the PR war with Christie - but it is.

Weak, really? All I know is that when we used the term "partying" (the term you said Christie used), we meant doing something involving alcohol or some other substance. When we used the term "a party" it usually indicated something a little less hedonistic.

If you want to get your panties in a wad about your draconian governor (which your state elected), then I suggest you be a bit more careful in how you describe his words.

Was it the right thing to say to students - no. I agree with you there. But, your exaggeration of his comments does you no favors and to me undermines whatever point you may have.




Partying

Jason, maybe it is semantics, but where I come from "partying" and "having a party" are two very different things. In the context provided, they mean very different things to me. Honestly, my Bat Mitzvah was a party. When I passed the bar exam, I was partying. In the context of your sentence, they, at least to me, convey very different images and reactions. He made an inappropriate statement and at least from my perspective, you tried to imply it was worse than what he in fact said.

All I am suggesting is that if you want to complain about the conduct of your Governor, do not misstate or overstate what he says or does - it undermines your argument and makes those not as familiar with what is going on with your state question whether your comments are reliable.

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Updated On: 8/23/13 at 04:32 PM

Well to be fair, teachers ARE the Union. It's not like "the Union" is this uncontrollable outside entity.

Honestly, the kids don't need those two days. It's two days of parents having to find care or take off work. Every other week has some kind of day off in NJ. They have more half days than any district I have ever seen. It would be better for everyone involved if it was held during the summer.

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Additionally, most New Jersey schools were off for the entire week, not just two days, for Fall break.

Yes, but those half days also count as full days attended. In November, out of 22 weekdays, they have four days off and three half days in the district where I lived. Why have three half days leading up to Thanksgiving vacation? Yes, parent teacher conferences need to happen, but there's already too much going on that month. I am biased because I had to care for the most low functioning of special needs kids those days and I got to see exactly how much or little their parents were actually involved. For a typical kid, two days off of school isn't a big deal. For a child with autism, it can be horrible. They need stability and a set schedule. School can be the only structure they get. I just think it makes it easier on the kids to go to school regularly.

I don't hate teachers at all, but I have dealt with several who shouldn't be teaching. I don't really understand making the kids stay home for two days while they attend a conference in AC. It seems it would be better to have it right before school starts in the fall.

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