As Cuts Loom, New Jersey Schools Brace for Worst

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/03/education/03njschools.html?hp

Public schools in Montclair, N.J., would lay off as many as 70 teachers, including reading and math specialists, and would no longer offer French and Spanish classes in its elementary grades.

Westfield would not be able to buy library books or replace aging computers, and a popular middle-school tradition — the fall play — could disappear.

Cresskill could see class sizes climb to 35 students in middle and high schools, it may charge students a fee to play high school sports, and it could eliminate middle-school athletic teams.

The three districts and others like them across the state have long attracted families because they offer some of the best public education in New Jersey. But now many of these top school systems are preparing to reduce the academic and extracurricular opportunities that have long set them apart.

(snip)
“People are really upset,” said Anne Riegel, a mother of two who said she moved to Westfield because of its schools. “What it seems like is the schools will provide substantially less, and our taxes will still go up with the governor’s cuts.”

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The parents/taxpayers are upset for more than the threat of their children receiving

less than stellar public education. The value of their homes is directly related to the quality of education that their particular community provides. Their children also risk losing their edge when applying for college with mediocre or non-existent foreign language experience, sports (scholarships), larger class size (less opportunity for individual attention or ability to slow down for those who are "lost"). Other states may excel in their education beyond what New Jersey has been (until now) able to offer their children.

[HockeyMom]

2. What a shame

since the state of NJ is consistently ranking in the top 10 among public schools in the country. You are now
Repuke controlled. They would like nothing better than to destroy public education in the country. After all, PRIVATE anything is always better.:sarcasm:

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I've been talking this past week with the leaders of the NJEA, the teachers union for the state.

The nation is watching to see who blinks first: the governor or the teachers. If the latter, other states will use hardball tactics to lower their salaries, lessen or take away their benefits, and destroy tenure (job security). The unions will be decimated.

[alp227]

4. Republican governors love gutting public ed, don't they?

I live in California, where the Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger has served as governor since Democrat Gray Davis got recalled in 2003. Luckily Schwarz gets termed out this year! California's been defunding public education under the Governator era!

So why again did New Jersey elect Christie?