Christie will propose longer school day - to antagonize public teachers union

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CHRISTIE_STATE_OF_STATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-01-14-02-15-16

Jan 14, 2:15 AM EST
Christie proposes longer school day amid scandal
By ANGELA DELLI SANTI

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will propose extending the public school calendar and lengthening the school day in a speech he hopes will help him rebound from an apparent political payback scheme that threatens to damage his second term and could cut short any ambitions to run for president.

Christie's proposal to lengthen school could antagonize an old adversary, the powerful public teachers union, which he has clashed with over pension and tenure changes. An overhaul of public employee retirement benefits by Christie and the Legislature in 2011 was bitterly opposed by the union, which spent millions in anti-Christie ads during his gubernatorial campaigns.

The education plan is the latest from a governor who has sought to retool schooling in grades kindergarten through 12 with mixed success so far.

Christie successfully overhauled century-old teacher tenure rules, essentially eliminating lifetime job protections. But the Democrat-led Legislature has not gone along with his voucher plan, which would allow children in failing schools to attend classes elsewhere, including at private or parochial schools.

[yeoman6987]

1. Just get rid of homeroom

That is 30 minutes that could be taken care of by the first class. I remember homeroom and it always was a time to chat with friends, but that time could be used to start the first class. Have a quick attendance and get right to class. I think that would save time and not have to extend the time of school throughout the day. I also think that kids have enough to do. A lot of kids have to get up early for the bus and then at the end of the day, they have activities and get home around 5 or 6 at night. With changes, kids would get home between 6 and 7 at night. It is too much already.

[Ikonoklast]

2. Teachers should give him what he wants, and go one hour better.

Then watch the voters with kids go absolutely ballistic as their schedules and that of their children turns totally impossible to keep.

[E-Z-B]

3. Who's going to pay for this? It's more than just teacher's salaries to keep schools open

NJ already has sky-high taxes.