Steven Singer was shocked to learn that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wants to punch teachers who belong to a union in the face. He takes this personally since he is a teacher and belongs to a union, which Christie has called “the most destructive force in American education.”
He writes:
One day historians may look back on Christie’s statement as a new low in electioneering. And this campaign season, that’s really saying something!
A candidate from one of the major political parties actually thinks threatening teachers with physical violence will gain him votes.
Why?
Look at it from his point of view. Christie is one of 17 Republicans running against each other for the party’s nomination. The first GOP debate is coming up and they’re only going to let the top 10 Republican candidates participate. And Christie’s popularity is low enough that he might get left out in the cold.
What’s a guy to do? Well the frontrunner, Donald Trump, earned his lead by saying the most outrageous things he could think of – namely that Mexican immigrants are rapists and thieves. And – WOOSH! – up went his poll numbers! Mike Huckabee compared the Iran deal to the Holocaust and watched his poll numbers rise, too.
Heck! If it worked for them, might as well try the same thing, Christie style! Let’s punch teachers!
This is strange for two reasons: (1) the governor of a populous state is actually resorting to the schoolyard rhetoric of an 8-year-old to characterize his presidential policy, and (2) who he’s targeting.
Can you imagine a U.S. President – not a candidate but a duly elected Commander-in-Chief – speaking to the nation this way?
“Today the state of our union is strong because my administration has punched the teachers in the face. We’ve also thrown welfare moms off the top ropes, put illegal immigrants in a sleeper hold and kicked planned parenthood in the groin!”
He wouldn’t talk this way about other public sector workers. Why so much rancor towards teachers?
Singer writes:
Can you imagine him speaking like this about any other public employee? Would he challenge postal workers to a knife fight? Would he threaten to pistol whip firefighters? Would he dare promise to drop kick police officers?
No way! For some reason educators really bug him – always have. He has a reputation for shouting down and bullying teachers in his state.
A psychologist might easily look at Christie and say he’s overcompensating.
A 52-year-old who probably couldn’t beat up an egg with an egg beater continues to talk as if he’s a street tough. A grown man who is still apparently intimidated by people with any kind of learning or book smarts continues to attack education and educators.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And while not so crass, NY’s governor says the same thing in so many words.
Neither wants educated, critical thinkers being developed in the classroom. Dumb down the electorate and rise to power.
In the Bronx neighborhoods I grew up In and worked in, we had a name for guys like that. Punks. We also had a solution. Don’t take their BS.
I hate to say it, but Christie might threaten to punch postal workers, police officers, and fire fighters. He is no friend to them either if you check out his relationship with their unions.
“A grown man who is still apparently intimidated by people with any kind of learning or book smarts continues to attack education and educators.”
….most of whom are women.
You can watch the interview at:
http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/08/02/sotu-tapper-christie-national-teachers-union-deserves-a-punch-in-the-face.cnn
Thanks so much for sharing my article, Diane. I really appreciate it. So Christie thinks hatred of teachers will get him votes. That would be hilarious if the stakes weren’t so high. I worry someone will take his words as an excuse to emulate his thoughts with action. Our schools already have metal detectors and security guards. Should we now worry about folks wanting to literally beat up the teaching staff? The recent survey of teachers working conditions conducted by the AFT and Badass Teachers Association shows 75% of educators are stressed out because of stuff just like this. Some are even taking their own lives. Christie’s crass attempt to get votes is only going to worsen the situation.
Steven,
Christie is at 1% in the polls
About the only way he will ever be a 1%er.
The ed reform obsession with labor unions is bizarre. Are there a lot of public school parents who share their anti-labor focus? I have never encountered a single public school parent who shared this obsession.
The anti-union sentiment from the “reformers” stems from the union standing between them and profit. The profit motive is the ultimate goal of most of the “reformers.”
Teachers’ unions are the only organized opponents of privatization.
Many parents hate teachers but like their teacher.
Does the Obama Administration still support this guy?
Is he still widely admired in ed reform circles now that the general public has figured out he’s dishonest, rude and completely corrupt?
Christie is such an arrogant person.
They seem to be everywhere. Office Max and Dell jumped on the teacher-bashing bandwagon with commercial featuring teenager and selfie with “mean” PE teacher.
Perhaps the podium at the GOP debate should be renamed, the “Bully Pulpit”.
Good one, Ms. Cartwheel Librarian!
Fear always lies behind hate – which is why many Republicans hate teachers and their unions.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
– Yoda
(Just had to post that…grin!)
We at Teacher.org called him out tonight on social as well. We challenge him to spend 5 days in a classroom. Live in our shoes. See the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/united-states-legislators-u-s-senate-u-s-house-of-representatives-president-of-the-united-states-take-the-5-day-challenge-in-september
5 days would be illegal under the 8th Amendment. He couldn’t last 5 minutes. Would be fun to watch, though.
Ah, but consider the delicious possibility of being able to beat the crap out of him, in self-defense of course, should he hit you and should you therefore fear for your life. Should be easy since he’s most likely in terrible shape. Adios, loudmouth.
Christie reminds me of an abusive teacher with anger management issues at my old school. The admins seemed unable or unwilling to protect students from his daily verbal abuse, so a few teachers concocted a plan to push his buttons until he hit one of us and could be fired. I almost succeeded, but he backed off at the last minute. Took the district another 10 years to force him out and into teacher jail, one of the few who’s actually deserved it.
This man is so foul.
That is gains his points to physically threaten women who teach kids to read -is just sick.
He never said he wanted to punch teachers in the face. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a narcissist clown, and you have to wonder how do these crazies ever make it onto the stage or into the big comfy chair, but he would “Trump” his way out of this. Just take Trump approach to Mexicans and apply to teachers:
“Hey..I love the teacher people, they’re beautiful, they’re great, But they’re comin into our classrooms, their bringin the molesters and the crimes, and the union. When I’m runnin this show I’ll put a stop to it. I’m gonna talk to them, because I love them, they’re beautiful. Especially the pretty, young ones. And I’m gonna bulldoze their union asses into the ground, and they’re gonna drive the bulldozers themselves, and I’m gonna make them pay for the bulldozers, because they’re great people-and I love them.”
From MANHUNTER (1986):
Will Graham: This started from an abused kid, a battered infant… There’s something terrible about…
Jack Crawford: What are you, sympathizing with this guy?
Will Graham: Absolutely… My heart bleeds for him, as a child. Someone took a kid and manufactured a monster. At the same time, as an adult, he’s irredeemable. He butchers whole families to pursue trivial fantasies… As an adult, someone should blow the sick f— out of his socks…
There is a great T-shirt opportunity here, all union teachers need a T-shirt with their picture on it and Christies big fist coming in for the punch.
A gentle reminder that people are behind unions.
Let’s see…the groups or leaders in history that have demonized public school teachers……hmmmm…..the Khmer Rouge, various, not all, “communist” groups, many undemocratic dictators, numerous African political/armed groups, Shah of Iran, Pinochet, and on goes the list.
Nice company, Chris.
The moment I began seeing these types of affirmations from, it seems, Republicans(but, of course, many Dems are on board) in the US, i truly felt, and still feel, deep sadness in my heart.
“Can you imagine a U.S. President – not a candidate but a duly elected Commander-in-Chief – speaking to the nation this way?
“Today the state of our union is strong because my administration has punched the teachers in the face. We’ve also thrown welfare moms off the top ropes, put illegal immigrants in a sleeper hold and kicked planned parenthood in the groin!”
Actually, Mike Judge imagined it some years ago. ALL HAIL PRESIDENT CAMACHO