New Jersey Teachers Unions: It's about the kids

Or is it? They didn't seem to think so at a recent hearing on a new bill for school choice, but the children were able to see what real representation meant:

New Jersey Teachers Union Forced to Take Back Seat to Kids
by Lori Drummer- Big Government


When New Jersey teachers union members refused to make room for students in a legislative committee hearing, the chairman took the meeting to the students.

Approximately 1,500 New Jersey schoolchildren and school choice supporters witnessed democracy in action on Thursday, May 13, when they attended a rally at the state capitol to support a private school choice bill under debate in the state Senate. The rally was set to support S1872, legislation that would establish a five-year scholarship tax credit pilot program for students in failing schools, which was heard by the Senate Economic Growth Committee that day.


When State Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Union), chairman of the committee and longtime supporter of school choice, prepared to call the committee to order, he noted that all of the seats had been taken by New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) members.

The chairman requested that half of the seats be made available for the children who supported the school choice bill. The union members refused to offer the children any seats.

So, the senators’ desks were moved, and Chairman Lesniak took the committee hearing outside:


“The NJEA and their supporters packed the room. I asked them to allow for fifty percent of supporters of the legislation in the room or else I was going to have them take the meeting outside so that everybody can see it. They refused to leave the room, so we’re going to have the committee meeting right here. Outside.”


In the end, the committee agreed that if they could meet outside of the government-assigned committee room – and instead outside, in the light of sunshine and in the view of taxpayers – students in failing schools should have the same flexibility to find a better venue that meets their needs.

The committee unanimously passed the legislation.


If enacted, the pilot program could fund up to $24 million in scholarships for up to 4,000 children the first year. After five years, up to 20,000 children would receive $120 million in scholarships. Scholarship funds would come from corporate contributions, for which the corporations would receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The full Senate must approve the measure before it advances to the state Assembly.

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