Gov. Chris Christie is defending remarks he made this week that math and science teachers should be paid more than gym teachers.

The heavy-set governor made the initial remarks during a Facebook town hall event in Palo Alto, Calif., earlier this week. A teachers union fired back by asking what his problem with gym teachers was.

New Jersey Education Association spokesman Steve Wollmer told The Star-Ledger newspaper that a teacher's role is "equally important, equally challenging and contributes equally to the outcome" of a child's education.

At Secaucus High School on Wednesday, Christie clarified that he doesn't hate gym teachers. But he laughed at Wollmer's response, saying the NJEA should "cut the crap" because while gym teachers are important, there is no shortage of them.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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