Jennifer Husko ( jhusko@nbc40.net ) - 11/5/09 04:42 pm
http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=11176
ATLANTIC CITY-- Thousands of New Jersey Education Association members from across the Garden State converged on the Atlantic City Convention Center for the start of their annual two-day conference. Their focus is on success for every child but these public school teachers don't think our newly elected governor agrees.
Recognized as the largest educational gathering of its kind anywhere in the world, the NJEA convention's goal is harboring success of every child, but members are not too sure our newly elected governor, Chris Christie is on the same page. "Hopefully he can bring some good changes...I'm not very hopeful...from things I've heard," said Nicole Gizzi, 1st through 5th grade resource room teacher in Ridgewood, Bergen County.
After giving their unanimous endorsement, the powerful state teachers union is considering Corzine’s loss a major upset for public education in the Garden State.
The NJEA said during his first term, Corzine increased education funding and expanded the states preschool program to help close the achievement gap between urban and suburban students.
Meanwhile, governor elect Chris Christie’s urban education agenda includes increasing the number of charter schools and introducing state funded vouchers for parents to enroll them in.
Teachers in those areas aren't too happy. "I just hope they realize vouchers are a piece of garbage and that the only thing it does is absolutely nothing at all," said Anthony Beatini who has been teaching for 33 years in West New York, Hudson County.
Christie, who's own children attend Catholic parochial schools says he believes children do better in urban charter schools they attend 11 months out of the year than they do at urban public schools and public school teachers here at the convention have a different opinion. "There are really strong educators and to work in an urban area you have to really care about what you do I really don't think he knows what he's talking about," said Gizzi.
Christie defends his position by saying charter schools in Newark are teaching children at a third the cost of regular public schools.
He plans on asking for an audit of every school district in an attempt to uncover spending that doesn't directly help educate students.
Christie says he expects problems with the NJEA when he moves forward with his plans and members of the NJEA say bring it on. “I don't think he knows a lot about us, he doesn't know our strength."
The NJEA says New Jersey has been named one of the four smartest states in the country based on the quality of its public and elementary schools.
http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=11176
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13 comments:
I would LOVE to see Chrisie audit RPS. I wonder what that might reveal (notice I used the word might).
If the NJEA is against it, i'm for it
Would somebody please explain to me this ridiculous 4 day weekend we get every November in NJ? Why can't the teachers have their convention in the summer? At least they'd be able to use the beach in Atlantic City.
The BOE is audited every year and is mandated to be done by November 1st.
Go to the BOE, ask for Mr. DeSimone and ask him to see the audit results. It's public information.
Bring Pepto Bismol
The NJEA is for the NJEA and that's all. The kids are incidental. "....the fourth smartest state..." As determined by the NJEA, of course.
I'd like all you anonymous bitches to leave your names. Step into a classroom and be in the shoes of a teacher. You have no idea what you're talking about until you become a teacher. Chris Christie should place his kids in public school first. Oh but wait, he lives in Mendham where the average home is $1,000,000. What does he know about Newark's schools and the dedicated teachers who work to make it a better place? Hey Christie, give Cory Booker a call.
Hopefully the beginning of the end for this union.
God bless this man if he give vouchers to urban kids.
If Nicole Gizzi lets her kids to attend High School in Patterson, Newark or Irvington, I'll believe she believes in public education.
It's one thing to tout public school when you are in a rich, white neighborhood with parents who support their kids with tutors & another to be stuck in a public school in Hudson County.
Urban schools are failing the neediest children & study after study shows that charter, catholic & private schools are better for minority children.
Someone should tell Nicole Gizzi that the education gap between white & minority children has not closed in 30 years.
Someone should also tell her that preschool doesn't make a difference, urban kids who attend preschool lose any advantage they had by 3rd grade.
the NJEA is the problem end of story , I try to seperate the union from the teachers.It would be nice to see teaching become a repected profession again and that will only happen if the union is put down
Ms. Gizzi sounds like a political hack spouting the party line of the NJEA regardless of the truth.
Corey Booker has been pushing for vouchers a long time. He and Christie will work well together in finally providing inner city children a well deserved education.
Hey, guess what 9:03. It costs $22k per student in Patterson and Newark an over 1 million dollars for every graduate in Newark. get your facts before spouting of on a topic you know nothing about.
Hey 9:03 you big dope, you should call Cory Booker and ask what he thinks about the public schools in his city. In fact if you knew anything at all you would know that he is the biggest proponent of vouchers and school choice. It was his party, the Democrat Part, owned and operated by the NJEA, that has vilified proponents and fought to prevent urban school children a choice to receive a quality education. You disgust me with your idiotic, union loving, greedy and snide post.
9:03, you anonymous AND hypocritical bitch. Don't start on Christie and his hometown. He was born in Newark. And are you saying that Booker from the 'hood', yes - the mean streets of Harrington Park, has all of the Newark Street cred? I actually like Booker versus that POS, corrupt Sharpe James. But don't tell me that just because he's an African American mayor of a disadvantaged city that he's all that.
I have teachers in various parts of my family and I can tell you that there are some teachers that truly earn their pay, and then some who definitely do not. They also know who the crappy ones are and who the union hacks are that start counting their days beginning the day they 'earn' tenure.
To all the great teachers, I commend you...to the others, your day is coming when you get thrown out on your asses. The damage the NJEA has done to education in this state is deplorable.
Don't lecture me, you sanctimonious partisan hack. This is not your classroom.
If a private school accepts any voucher, they should have to accept any child who wants to attend. Private schools generally "perform" better for two reasons:
1. They can be selective, and if a student "isn't working out," that student is kicked out.
2. Parents who send their children to private schools are more likely to be more involved in their child's education.
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