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BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
New Jerseyans, including Republicans, oppose Gov. Chris Christie's idea of expanding charter schools by 52 to 40, according to a Quinnipiac University poll made public Thursday.
Republicans, who led the way to Christie's election in November, oppose charter school expansion 51-39 percent. But opposition is strongest among union households, 65 to 29 percent, and among parents of public school students, 55 to 38 percent.
Residents in urban areas where charter schools are finding success, approve of their expansion 53 to 43 percent, as do black New Jerseyans 52 to 43 percent, but the measure fails in all other areas of the state.
Christie has said he intends to support the expansion of charter schools, attempt to improve urban public schools and hold educators responsible for the failure of all New Jersey students to meet educational goals. He has warned the powerful New Jersey Teachers Union that he will oppose any effort to block his goals.The poll also found New Jerseyans believe by a 66 to 31 percent margin that merit pay for outstanding teachers is a good idea. They also support by 64 to 31 percent the idea of firing bad teachers. New Jerseyans with children in public school support merit pay 68 to 30 percent and support easier firings 66 to 30 percent. Union households support merit pay 60 to 38 percent and easier firings 59 to 33 percent. Black oppose the idea of making it easier to fire a teacher 54 to 38 percent, while white voters support it 72 to 23 percent.
Men take a stronger position on firing teachers, backing the idea 68 to 27 percent, compared to 60 to 35 percent support among women.
"New Jersey's new governor, Christopher Christie, and Education Commissioner Bret Schundler like merit pay for good teachers,'' said Maurice Carroll, the poll's director. "So do voters, by margins topping 2-1.
"As a bonus, voters think it ought to be easier to fire bad teachers. But Governor Christie's and Commissioner Schundler's support for charter schools doesn't resonate with voters, except for black, urban voters who are most dissatisfied with their public schools."
New Jerseyans believe 66 to 27 percent that Christie will get tough with teachers' unions. They say 48 to 39 percent that teacher unions are playing a negative role in improving the state's education system. Parents of public school students say 47 to 43 percent that teacher unions play a negative role. Teacher unions play a positive role, according to voters in union households, 55 to 34 percent, and blacks, 53 to 29 percent.
Public school teacher salaries in New Jersey are too high, 22 percent of New Jerseyans say, while 28 percent say they're too low and 44 percent say they're about right.
"Maybe it was the campaign rhetoric,'' Carroll said. "Maybe it's the Schundler appointment. Whatever, New Jerseyans expect Christie to get tough with a long-time sacred cow, the teachers union. The teachers' unions get bad marks. Almost half say they're a negative influence.
"But individual teachers don't score badly,'' Carroll noted. "Their pay level is either too low or just about right, three-fourths of voters say."
From Jan. 13 to Monday, Quinnipiac pollsters surveyed 1,175 New Jerseyans, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
