Christie blasts city schools

October 13, 2009  |  Courier Post  |  Link to article

CAMDEN - Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie on Monday night blasted the city's school system as "obscene" and said its failed classrooms are to blame for Camden's dangerous streets. (photos here)

In a speech here, Christie aimed much of his criticism at his Democratic opponent, saying the administration of Gov. Jon S. Corzine has taken "deep bows" for "half measures" in the impoverished city.

But Christie also targeted teachers unions for city school failures, saying their leaders "are feeling fat and they don't want change."

Christie said he'd improve education opportunities for city youth by offering more charter schools, introducing vouchers that would cover tuition payments at private schools and through unspecified "innovations."

"The failing schools must change or they must go extinct because we can't continue to fail your children," he said a meeting sponsored by the nonpartisan Camden Churches Organized for People. About 100 people turned out for the session at Sword of the Spirit Church.

Christie said he would "empower" parents to "close down" public schools. Corzine would not take such steps, he said, because "the governor is in the sway of the teachers' union."

Christie also repeated his call to end the state takeover of Camden, which occurred in 2002 as part of a $175 million turnaround effort.

"We're all still waiting for the promise of the Camden recovery act," he told members of the CCOP, which was a proponent for the state's action. "The state said to the people of Camden, "You can't govern yourself.' How well have they done?"

Christie also noted he had opposed the state's earlier decision to oversee the city's police force. "I said Camden has to solve Camden's problems," he said.

"We'll return power to you when I'm governor but in partnership," he said. "With that partnership comes responsibility."

Christie said he knew the city and its problems, noting he was often in Camden during his tenure as a U.S. Attorney.

"Education and violence are connected," said the former prosecutor. "Violence is most of the time an expression of despair."

CCOP last month hosted Corzine at a similar meeting in an East Camden church. At that session, the incumbent defended the state's investment in Camden, but also acknowledged residents' concerns about neighborhood problems."

Corzine also said that he would hire a permanent chief operating officer to replace Theodore Z. Davis, who retired earlier this year as the Camden's state-appointed chief operating officer.

Christie suggested the program's focus on economic-renewal projects was misguided.

"Before we worry about what we build on the waterfront . . . we'd better fix our education system and we'd better stop the violence or none of the other things are going to happen," he contended.