<p>I have always wondered what percentage of teachers attend this conference. I don’t think I have ever heard of a teacher that has gone and I am surprised Governor Christy has not tried to put an end to this four day vacation. With a long summer off can’t this convention be held in the summer? The teachers who really want to attend would make it a point to go if it was held during the school year or in the summer. Somethings just don’t make any sense, and frankly this convention just kind of makes me wonder what the priorities are. I hate seeing money wasted, and more importantly this appears to be a waste of time and another short vacation.</p>
<p>Not many. I wonder if the convention now is also just an economic boost to AC. That may be why the Governor does not rail against it.</p>
<p>I agree. It is a waste of money. All of the teachers I know view it as a paid holiday and do not attend the conference.</p>
<p>Enough attend to generate income for AC during a down period I bet.</p>
<p>I know this is vague, but:</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of NJEA members from across the state are expected to attend the 157th annual NJEA Convention November 10-11, 2011 in Atlantic City. </p>
<p>This, not so vague:</p>
<p>Number of Full-time Classroom Teachers 2010-2011 108,591</p>
<p>We used to live in FL, and at Disney it is called NJ week because so many teachers families vacation that week. It is a great time of week to be in FL, low humidity, less crowds that a traditional break week. I also do not know of any teachers that go to the convention, but my sample size is probably not statistically valid!</p>
<p>In our district, I think the union leadership attend. Beyond that, I can’t remember any of my kid’s teachers ever noting they go. </p>
<p>We did college tours 2 years ago and all of the presenters would start by asking how many people were NOT from NJ. Of course, we all were from NJ! When my kids were young, we went to Disney for a few days, but flew through Tampa, as the airfares into Orlando from Newark were 3x what they were the following week.</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of NJEA members from across the state are expected to attend the 157th annual NJEA Convention November 10-11, 2011 in Atlantic City. </p>
<p>The governor does not want to stop this.</p>
<p>
You beat me to it. This is indeed known as Jersey Week at Disney. Not only the teachers vacation this week, but the students do as well. In election years they get an extra day off, which really makes a vacation (anywhere) a no brainer. :)</p>
<p>We get off for the Jewish holidays, the Muslim one that falls around the same time, Columbus day, Duwali, several in-service days sprinkled in, and 4 days of early release for conferences in early Nov. (which used to be held during the same week as the convention but now are not because it encouraged too many people to take vacation)–all before Thanksgiving. There are just too many interruptions. I used to get angry that our school year got needlessly disrupted and extended for nothing, since so few teachers would attend the conference they are getting paid days off to attend. However, the teachers do not get their way paid for them, and the hotels raise their rates by about $100 a night for that time period, so I suppose cost could be a legitimate reason. However, it continues to be aggravating when the teachers talk to their students about their vacations to tropical islands, when those students’ parents are scrambling for child care so they can work.</p>
<p>^Just wondering, why would parents be “scrambling” when the school calendar, including the convention dates, is published months ahead of time?</p>
<p>The Press of Atlantic City suggests that about 50,000 people attend the convention. Assuming half (probably an overestimate) are non-teachers (retired, non-members, etc) this would be about 25% of working teachers.</p>
<p>Grew up in NJ, and my Mom was the head payroll clerk for the local school district. She never knew of anyone who went to the convention.</p>
<p>BUT… even assuming “tens of thousands” of teachers go - why don’t they hold this in the SUMMER? Or during a vacation time, like Presidents’ Day week, or Spring Break?</p>
<p>The fact that they get school closed down for 2 days thru the entire state for a union convention speaks volumes to me about the strength of the teachers union in NJ.</p>
<p>Let’s take a survey: do ANY other states hold their convention during the school year?
Massachusetts = no</p>
<p>Maryland holds its teachers convention on the 3rd Friday in October. One day off for everyone.</p>
<p>My friend who is a teacher in NJ, told me that only new teachers go to the conference. My friend is in an all inclusive in Punta Cana for the conference. She also complains all the time that Christy is ruining the education system by trying to take away benefits. She was shocked to hear at a recent dinner how much money people in the private sector pay for medical insurance and that very few have a pension. But that is for another thread!</p>
<p>^^surprised nobody mentioned the fact that many NJ schools were also closed last week due to unforeseen circumstances…</p>
<p>There are kids in some districts that have not seen a full week of school more than once since the beginning of October…</p>
<p>Honestly, I was shocked that some districts are not opening today and tomorrow to make up the time…not everyone is in Orlando (even though it seems that way)</p>
<p>The convention is in their contract. Despite the lack of school last week (we were closed only 2 days), there is no way you could have asked teachers to change plans. Our district is out of snow days and any extras will come off the April break.</p>