Learning At The Teacher’s Convention

Public schools in the state are closed today and tomorrow for the annual New Jersey Education Association Convention in Atlantic City. 

The organization’s website boasts that tens of thousands of members from around the state will flock to the Atlantic City Convention Center in the next two days and take part in workshops and more so they can grow professionally.  Of course with tongue-in-cheek I will say a certain percentage of teachers will head to AC for other reasons and an even larger percentage are actually just using this as a four-day weekend with many taking vacations.

With Election Day this past Tuesday some schools are even closed for the entire week which is why if you go to Disney World there’s a very good chance you’ll run into plenty of people from New Jersey.

By the way as a quick follow-up to Tuesday’s election in which Governor Christie was re-elected by a landslide over Barbara Buono.   Christie received 46% of the vote from those in a union household which is impressive when you consider traditionally they support Democrats and the teacher’s union actively lobbied their members of vote for Buono.  Interesting to me was that many of the state’s larger unions devoted their time and money to keeping Democratic legislators in office knowing that backing Buono was a losing proposition.

Even if you’re not a sports fan there’s a good chance you have paid some attention to the story this week involving two members of the Miami Dolphins who are now sidelined for very different reasons.  Jonathan Martin, a second-year offensive lineman has left the team to return to his California home reportedly over emotional distress caused by now suspended teammate Richie Incognito.

There are so many twists and turns to this story with Dolphin players saying yesterday the two are best of friends and they have never witnessed any incidents of bullying The NFL is now investigating what’s turned out to be another PR mess.

For those who follow high school football tonight’s Investors Bank Football Show will feature Coach Ron Signorino Jr. and two-way standout Darius Hart of Toms River South and Rumson coach Bryan Batchler and Bulldogs running back Charlie Volker, who is leading the shore in rushing. Also appearing will be Brick coach Rob Dahl.  The show is broadcast live from the Water Street Grille in Toms River and can be heard on 105.7FM beginning at 7pm.