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HCREO president responds to NJ union official’s remarks

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On the New Jersey Capitol Report this past weekend, New Jersey Education Association Director Vincent Giordano was asked his views on a legislative proposal to offer private scholarships to low income students who attend public schools judged to be under-performing. Giordano, who according to Newark Star-Ledger earned roughly $422,000 from the union in 2010, said he supported low-income children attending private schools as long as they paid for it themselves. When asked whether that was a practical solution, given their household income, Giordano responded: “Well, you know, life’s not always fair and I’m sorry about that.”
A video of this exchange is available at:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/07/nj_teachers_union_boss_with_500k_salary_tells_poor_lifes_not_always_fair.html

The following is a statement from Julio Fuentes, President and CEO of the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (Hispanic CREO):

“Let’s hope Mr. Giordano was just having a bad day, but his remarks reflect a stunning insensitivity toward children who grow up in poverty. I’d like to invite him to speak with some of the struggling Latino families in Florida for whom the Tax Credit Scholarship is one way the public education system is trying to help level the playing field. Let him speak dismissively of their children’s educational futures, and they will kindly put him in his place.

“Mr. Giordano may not want to see New Jersey children given the same hope, but I strongly urge the Legislature to pass the Opportunity Scholarship Act that will give New Jersey’s disadvantaged families an option they need.”

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
CONTACT: AlbertoCollazo,(305)297-9043,albert@hcreo.com