Chris Christie Wants Teachers In School Next Week [AUDIO]

Yesterday, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) canceled its annual teachers' convention in Atlantic City for the first time in 158 years because of the damage caused by super-storm Sandy.

Governor Chris Christie is strongly urging the NJEA to send its teachers to school those two days and if the union doesn't, Christie has another card to play and it's an Ace.

"I want to commend the NJEA for making the decision to cancel the conference," says Christie. "I think that was a good idea. I need them now to do the second part of it which is to tell their teachers to go to schools those two days. I understand that the teachers' convention and those two days off is a statutory entitlement that was given to the teachers union, but I think these are extraordinary circumstances."

The Governor explains, "I certainly wouldn't want to be tempted to use the Disaster Control Act to order teachers back to school in order to meet our instructional days. I would hope they would do it voluntarily and I'm confident they will, but I wouldn't hesitate to do what needed to be done to make sure our children get the education they need."

"Restoring these two class days can be a step toward recovery," says State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean. "It can spark a sense of normalcy for families who have had their children home without power all week, and for students who otherwise could potentially attend class just two days in a 17-day span. It would be welcomed by many school districts now struggling to schedule their 180-day statutory obligation before July, without any more snow days."

The NJEA says some districts have decided not to hold classes those days because many families have made plans to be away those days.