Chris Christie Rocks on Taxes

[guido911]

Here he is vetoing a new tax on those evil rich people:

http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/05/governor-christie-vetoes-new-jersey-tax-hike-in-2-minutes-video/

Skull-boning a reporter:

[guido911]

Christie vs. School Teacher:

But borough teacher Rita Wilson, a Kearny resident, argued that if she were paid $3 an hour for the 30 children in her class, she'd be earning $83,000, and she makes nothing near that.

"You're getting more than that if you include the cost of your benefits," Christie interrupted.

When Wilson, who has a master's degree, said she was not being compensated for her education and experience, Christie said:

"Well, you know then that you don't have to do it." Some in the audience applauded.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/politics/052510_NJ_Gov_Chris_Christie_defends_cuts_promotes_property_tax_cap_in_Rutherford.html

[Conan71]

Hmm, I guess he won't be counting on the teacher's unions endorsements next election

[Red Arrow]

But borough teacher Rita Wilson, a Kearny resident, argued that if she were paid $3 an hour for the 30 children in her class, she'd be earning $83,000, and she makes nothing near that.

Assuming she intends $3/hr for each child, that would be $90/hr.   
I'd like to earn be paid that too.  I hope she's not holding her breath waiting.

[guido911]

Assuming she intends $3/hr for each child, that would be $90/hr.   
I'd like to earn be paid that too.  I hope she's not holding her breath waiting.

Here's the video of Christie's exchange

[nathanm]

I guess New Jersey wants to become California. Whatever works for them..

[Breadburner]

If you get into teaching to get rich and dont then grumble about it is like a hockey player bitching about getting hit by a stick....

[nathanm]

If you get into teaching to get rich and dont then grumble about it is like a hockey player bitching about getting hit by a stick....

That being said, teachers need to make more (at least here in Oklahoma) and administrative personnel costs need to be better controlled.

It's simply unfathomable to me that we pay the people we expect to do a large part of turning our young hooligans into thoughtful and educated adults less than a guy managing a fast food restaurant. Hell, I've known pizza delivery drivers that made more than most teachers did at the time. If money really is the sole determinant of value as many free market evangelists claim, we obviously have incredibly foobared up priorities.

[Gaspar]

That being said, teachers need to make more (at least here in Oklahoma) and administrative personnel costs need to be better controlled.

It's simply unfathomable to me that we pay the people we expect to do a large part of turning our young hooligans into thoughtful and educated adults less than a guy managing a fast food restaurant. Hell, I've known pizza delivery drivers that made more than most teachers did at the time. If money really is the sole determinant of value as many free market evangelists claim, we obviously have incredibly foobared up priorities.

I agree.  We pay the average teacher 32K, but spend $100,000 or more for each class room of kids (15).  The average school is gobbling up a couple million dollars a year.  Some are eating tens of millions a year in tax money.  Compare that to the efficiency of any private institution and it's laughable.

[buckeye]

If money really is the sole determinant of value as many free market evangelists claim, we obviously have incredibly foobared up priorities.

I doubt an entirely government controlled entity like public schools is all that influenced by market forces.  It's the cheapest, lowest common denominator option, just like nearly every other government service - so a lot of people take advantage of it.  Heck, you've already paid for it, why not send the kids there and try to get your money's worth?  How well are private school teachers paid?  I have no idea.

There is way too much administrative overhead in OK public schools.  Money would be better spent on teachers' salaries than on administrators working hard trying to make themselves relevant.

I like Christie's attitude - quit whining and do something about it.  As he said, re-election is not his concern, no surprise he's willing forgo the teacher's union's contributions.

[Gaspar]

  How well are private school teachers paid? 

I know, one such local school (that will remain unnamed!) starts teachers at $50K and has several on staff at over $80K.  Don't know if that's the norm, but it really pisses off teachers that get turned down for jobs.  They cherry-pick the best teachers and leave the rest to the public system and the unions.

[nathanm]

I know, one such local school (that will remain unnamed!) starts teachers at $50K and has several on staff at over $80K.  Don't know if that's the norm, but it really pisses off teachers that get turned down for jobs.  They cherry-pick the best teachers and leave the rest to the public system and the unions.

That's not at all the norm. Private schools generally pay teachers no better than public schools, although it may be different here in Oklahoma where we pay the public school teachers peanuts.

You have to keep in mind that much of the seeming "inefficiency" comes from having to accept all the special needs kids and all the cost that entails. My high school spent over a hundred grand outfitting the school for a paraplegic kid (nice guy, actually). Not to mention that they had to pay for an aide to follow him around everywhere and help him with the physical part of doing schoolwork.

That doesn't even get into all the little monsters with uncontrolled ADD and other behavioral issues that no amount of discipline from the school will fix because it's a medical problem. Private schools don't have those expenses. They can either refuse to admit the kid that needs a lot of attention/help/whatever or make the parents pay for the extra cost.

I don't know what the solution is, although I generally am in favor of the idea of mainstreaming. Maybe throwing more money at the problem would fix it, maybe not. It's a problem we need to tackle, however. Just cutting funding certainly isn't going to fix the issue any more than cutting prison funding makes them less violent.

[guido911]

He also rocks on teacher's unions:

[guido911]

He also rocks on state supreme court nominations:

[we vs us]

Here's a worthwhile rebuttal to Mr. Christie's public school stuff.

"Tuesday, May 18, 2010
By Steven Derion, A 2007 Nominee for the Governor's Teacher of the Year Award, Manahawkin , NJ

-- To: The Honorable Chris Christie

From: Steven Derion, A 2007 Nominee for the Governor's Teacher of the Year Award, Manahawkin , NJ

I am the enemy. I never realized this until your election to governor. In a few short weeks, you have made this fact explicitly clear to me . . . ."