“To promote and develop the highest professional standards, practices and ethics among educators.”
From the Mission Statement of the Bergen County Education Association.
Joe Coppola, president of the Bergen County Education Association
Many people say that “the truth” in humor is what makes a joke funny. This is why racist jokes are funny to people who are racists, and offensive to people who are not racists.
Jokes can also land you in jail…and for good reason. Joking about a bomb on a plane, joking about killing the President…some jokes are just dangerous. Jokes in school can get you suspended…so it’s certainly bizarre at the least to read about the Bergen County’s Teachers’ Union claiming a “prayer” for the death of Chris Christie is a joke.
An internal memo distributed by the Bergen County affiliate of the New Jersey Education Association ended with…
“Dear Lord … this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. … I just wanted to let you know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor.”
Governor Christie certainly is seeking to manipulate public opinion against the teacher’s union with his offer to return additional state aid to municipalities where teachers accept a year long wage freeze. The amount returned to towns such as Oakland, Wyckoff, and Franklin Lakes would be minimal – in the tens of thousands, so the Governor’s offer is relatively meager. But, combined with the savings from a salary freeze, towns would realize savings in the hundreds of thousands.
As a politician, Governor Christie exposes himself to criticism and ridicule, but the tasteless humor exhibited by the Bergen County affiliate of the New Jersey Education Association crossed a line that has drawn national media attention – see list below. While union officials have apologized to the Governor, they originally explained that the memo was internal and never meant to be made public.
It is now an obvious concern to the teachers’ union, elected officials, residents, parents and students that the level of discourse has sunk to such a disgraceful level. The coming weeks will tell if those responsible for approving this memo can maintain any sense of credibility with NJ taxpayers who will soon be voting on school budgets.
Associated Press
Star Ledger
Sacramento Bee
Wall Street Journal
This was a horrible tragedy. Billy Mays was one of the worlds greatest icons. Billy Mays was far more memorable, charismatic, and helpful than Patrick Swayze whom the who loves to remember. We need to remember the man who always was in your face. Who brought out the best in everything he touched. Who we looked up to, who we imitated, and loved in his life as we shall continue to in his death. A death which leaves the world in comparative silence, in the wake of his strong voice. RIP, Billy Mays… We online will carry on your legacy when we use ALL CAPS to type.