OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday called for taking away tenure from ineffective teachers, saying that “tenure should be granted and maintained for those who show they know how to teach.”

The governor also said teachers’ contracts should not increase salaries just for completion of a certain number of years of service, or for earning a master’s or other graduate degree, unless the teacher can show that their students’ performance improved.

“It’s not about playing the blame game,” Mr. Christie told a cheering audience at a packed town-hall-style meeting here. “It’s about holding people accountable for results.”