Speaking at NJEA conference, U.S. Sen. Menendez says it's time to stop blaming teachers
Published: Saturday, February 05, 2011, 3:45 PM Updated: Saturday, February 05, 2011, 3:46 PM
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, pictured in a March file photo, who has long supported the teachers union, today told them he supports their pension and tenure plans.TRENTON — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) was the keynote speaker at the New Jersey Education Association 2011 Legislative Conference in East Brunswick early this afternoon, where he told the grateful union the things they were expecting to hear from an official who has always supported public education.
The NJEA has not gotten along with Gov. Chris Christie, who in the last year has pushed for anti-tenure legislation for teachers, spoken about an expensive pension system and failed to secure education jobs funding in time for this academic year. At the conference, Menendez took the opposite position on all the issues, praising teachers for working hard under less-than-optimal