Why are we listening to Governor Christie?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about Governor Christie's address he made earlier last week, particularly the part about lengthening the school calendar and school day. My first instinct was to shut off the radio, because I can't listen to a word that comes out of the mouth of someone who has never been a public school parent. What in the world does he know of the workings of the public school system "first hand"? But instead I listened, which only fueled my fire...

Governor Christie's children attend a private school that is only in session 160 days vs. the current public school calendar which is 180. You ever heard the expression "put your money where your mouth is?" Well I'd like to see him enroll his children in their local PUBLIC school district for a year and then let's see what kind of complaining he would do? His local school district is fabulous but apparently not fabulous enough for his children.

In the current 180 day school year, teachers are now under new mounting pressures of the common core. Extending the school day or calendar does not solve these issues. In fact, it might make them worse. For example, under the new common core, there is more assessing being done in all grade levels. In some districts, a teacher could be assessing her fourth grade class 80 out of those 180 days. In another, a fifth grade teacher could be assessing 100 of the 180 days. (These are actual examples from friends who are teachers based on their assessment guides in their districts) This is mandatory and cannot be changed. So let's throw in assemblies, trips, enrichment programs and all the other daily workings of a school year and where does that leave all the good "ol' fashioned" teaching? Keep in mind that the private schools that Governor Christie's children attend are not held to the new common core mandates nor are they held to the new teacher evaluation system as well.

I've listened to him drone on and on before about issues he believes exists in our public school system and even then, knowing that New Jersey's schools rank third in the nation, we continue to listen to his rhetoric. Well, I for one have HAD IT! This is a man who continues to focus on issues that are not state wide concerns and rather uses cities like Camden to direct what should be educational policy? How is Camden like Bernards Township? Or even Bridgewater-Raritan? Right, they're not even of the same planet. 

If Abbott Districts and urban cities are in need of such educational upheaval why must it be focused on all of New Jersey's school districts? What's good for one may not be good for all? Whatever happened to focusing help on the areas that need it and maybe even looking to other districts for models of such help? No, instead, everything has to change? How silly it all sounds!

Oh, and to get back to the extension of the school year - does every student need this? Probably not. Did you know that almost every school district offers extended school year programs for children who have not reached benchmarks and/or are in need of extra support? Yup, well it already exists. You know what the problem is, parents. You heard me, parents! I can't tell you how many students do not show up. Here is a free program to help and benefit your child educationally and yet not all parents believe it is necessary and important and do not take advantage of it. 

In the same regards, children who do work hard during the school year truly need the break. Attending summer camp, traveling on trips with family, or even just mellowing out by the community pool is something many children need. Even for those children, teachers spend many hours putting together enrichment packets or suggestions of book lists and areas of study to help prevent summer lag. 

Let's think about the other areas of concern. Didn't Governor Christie say he wanted to help lower taxes? Hmmm, well keeping schools open longer would require more expenses in utilities, salaries of teachers and even upgrades to older buildings (health codes would stipulate that classrooms cannot exceed a certain temperature during the summer and many do not have a/c). So what does this do to local taxes? Certainly does NOT lower them!

What about our still recovering Jersey shore towns? Those towns depend on summer tourism, home rentals and their beaches. What will happen if they can't keep their economy going because everyone is still in school? 

What about the hundreds of day camps in New Jersey who seasonally make their yearly salary over the summer, completely dependent on those summer months we're not in school!? Well, they certainly won't come out any better, will they? 

So for me, I'm done listening to our Governor. I can't take him seriously and I find all of this to be a fabulous distraction from his Bridgegate scandal. It was quite the good timing to give this speech only a few days after Bridgegate broke. Again, is education in New Jersey being scapegoated? Well played Governor. Well played. 

I'd like to leave you with one more thought, which is a quote from NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer “I challenge Gov. Christie to demonstrate the sincerity of his proposal by renouncing yesterday’s veto of a bill creating a task force to study issues associated with implementing full-day kindergarten across New Jersey.  Full-day kindergarten, in districts where it does not already exist, would immediately double the length of the school day for tens of thousands of young students at a critical time in their development. The benefits of full-day kindergarten are clear and well-documented.  NJEA has consistently supported full-day kindergarten and urges its implementation statewide. I also invite Gov. Christie to begin working with us to ensure access to full-day preschool for more New Jersey children.  Under the school funding formula, preschool should be available to at least 30,000 more students across the state. Research on the benefits of early childhood education is unambiguous and the benefits are significant.  Unfortunately, Gov. Christie has consistently refused to invest the resources needed to provide the opportunities for children that the law calls for.  NJEA has consistently supported full-day preschool."

So basically our Governor does not support the need for the above mentioned, but thinks lengthening the school day and calendar is a better idea? I'm starting to wonder if maybe he need to attend public school again?