Bad Sport

Via Blue Jersey, Christie says teachers need to pick up the tab for kids to play sports:

Does it worry you that, as a result of your budget cuts, some districts are cutting back on sports or having athletes pay to join high school teams? 

It does. I don't think it should have to. We're looking at this all backwards. Teachers and administrators should be looking at what they're paid and what their raises are, and if they're really worried about the kids, sports are an integral part of a kid's education. When I see some people being restricted in any way from participating in that, it does concern me, because I was very involved in it as a kid at public schools here. I also know it's a false choice. They can make other choices and they refuse to.

 This is incoherent. Christie himself lays out the choice; teachers' pay, or sports. He says so right there: "Teachers and administrators should be looking at what they're paid and what their raises are, and if they're really worried about the kids, sports are an integral part of a kid's education."


That is the choice he is laying out - period. Cut programs that have been an essential part of NJ schools for 30 years, or cut teachers' salaries. He doesn't lay out any other options - he's never said there are other options. What are they? If he knows them, why has he harped on teachers taking a pay freeze all spring?


As Jason quite correctly points out, he is the one who presents the false choices. He could have presented a choice of keeping the millionaires tax. He could have chosen to take on the health insurance companies and their outrageous premium increases. He could have gone after the $15 billion in revenue NJ gave up this year.


May I point out one other thing?


This guy played sports for free at a time when teacher salaries were considered too low to attract the best talent. A Republican Governor, Tom Kean, led the charge to increase teacher pay because NJ was falling behind and wasn't attracting quality people into the profession.


Does he want to return to those days? Because it sure looks like it.