New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, never one to shy a way from expressing contempt for teachers’ unions, is calling for the executive director of the New Jersey union to resign for comments he made regarding poor families, reports NorthJersey.com.
During a discussion about vouchers on NJTV, New Jersey Education Association chief Vincent Giordano responded to the host’s comment that many families can’t afford to pull their kids out of underperforming public schools by saying, “Life’s not always fair and I’m sorry about that.” (NJEA has historically opposed school vouchers.)
According to NorthJersey.com, the Republican governor said he was “disgusted” but “not the least bit surprised” by Giordano’s comment. He contended that if Giordano does not resign, the NJEA president should fire him.
Steve Wollmer, spokesman for the NJEA, called Christie’s remarks an “obvious political attack.” He told the news site that Giordano’s comment was “open to misinterpretation” and that the NJEA has long supported disadvantaged students. “We will put our record on urban education up against the governor’s anytime anywhere,” said Wollmer.