Published: Friday, December 23, 2011, 11:30 AM
Updated: Friday, December 23, 2011, 12:40 PM
TRENTON — New Jersey has been awarded nearly $38 million in federal Race to the Top funding to bolster Gov. Chris Christie’s education reform agenda, including plans to use test scores to evaluate teacher performance.
The funding was awarded after the state lost out on $460 million in two previous rounds of the Race to the Top competition, including a failed bid last week for $60 million that would have benefited pre-schoolers statewide....
I think Governor Christie made a great speech. He brought back words needed in the Republican Party. He toned the extremism and to that end I think he did a great job.
It laid out battleground for the future of the GOP to actually put forward a party that can serve this country and do so in bi-partisanship. I believe and I hope Governor Christie continues to set a leadership example that will work to change the direction of the GOP. I mean with sincerity. I remind he was the only Governor I know of that actually placed a person of the Muslim faith before the legislature for the NJ Judiciary. He is a warrior alone in the GOP in many ways.
I wish him luck for the further fight of the GOP.
By Matt Katz, Inquirer Trenton Bureau
MIDDLESEX, N.J. - Teachers' union leaders (click here) and Gov. Christie appeared in the same room Monday - and even shook hands - as they heralded legislation on tenure passed by lawmakers from both parties.
But the smiles and signs of détente in the ugly feud between Christie and the unions belied reality, as the bulk of Christie's education agenda remains sidelined.
The bill-signing at a middle school in central New Jersey was a historic moment, marking the state's most significant changes to teacher-tenure rules in a century. It links tenure to performance, increases the time it takes to earn tenure, and makes it faster and cheaper to dismiss a poor teacher....
Governor Christi has been able to bring about reasonable changes to contracts. No one can say he didn't. They are changes the people have been seeking without destroying the unionized teachers of New Jersey. The parents wanted empowerment and he was able to achieve that without completely destroying the integrity of the unions. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
I know he is not a fan of Democratic principles, but, he is not out to destroy them and punish different faiths and beliefs for the simple fact they exist. He has many redeeming qualities, it would be wrong to trash him. I think he can do the GOP a lot of good. I hope he does. The country needs a truce in the worst way.
Governor Christi welcomes the federal government in the help it has offered from the Obama Administration. They have been partners in education and Christi awaited the visit of President Obama post Irene. I am quite confident he accepted any aid for unemployment in New Jersey stemming from the Recovery Act.
He didn't take cheap shots tonight. He didn't scream 'Down with Obamacare' as most other Republicans do. That is an empty chant. It is the easy way out. If the Republicans hope they are going to defeat the National Debt based on destroying the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, then they have no answer to the nation's needs or the best path forward. I think Christi knows that and I remember him stating, "I am tired of the crazies."
Maybe it takes a Jersey Guy to set the GOP on a far better path than they have now. Time will tell.
