05-08-2010, 08:16 PM
Who cares what degrees the paper shufflers on the high school district have?
If they have a degree, why do they deserve a raise at taxpayer expense? If they want a degree, let them pay for it themselves.
Stop giving away taxpayer money to pols who are just padding their resumes and what do you bet the number of bureaucrats with bogus degrees drops to zero? But then, it's not really about bogus degrees, is it. It's about restricting competition and providing revenue sources to the higher ed cartel.
If they have a degree, why do they deserve a raise at taxpayer expense? If they want a degree, let them pay for it themselves.
Stop giving away taxpayer money to pols who are just padding their resumes and what do you bet the number of bureaucrats with bogus degrees drops to zero? But then, it's not really about bogus degrees, is it. It's about restricting competition and providing revenue sources to the higher ed cartel.
Quote:Christie signs "diploma mill law'
Freehold Regional staff's degrees spurred restrictions on raises
By LARRY HIGGS • STAFF WRITER • May 7, 2010
TRENTON — A bill signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie Thursday will prohibit school employees from profiting from degrees obtained from mail-order or unaccredited colleges.
The legislation, known as the diploma mill law, was inspired by the 2008 discovery that Freehold Regional High School District superintendent, H. James Wasser, and several current and former staff members received doctoral degrees from the online, unaccredited Breyer State University.
"This bill requires that our public school employees attend only accredited institutions if they wish to receive tuition assistance," state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, said in a prepared statement. "Additional education should be rewarded, and this law ensures that those rewards only go to individuals attending accredited institutions, not some Internet-based diploma mill."
The state concluded in early September 2008 that Wasser, Assistant Superintendent Donna Evangelista and a former assistant superintendent must stop using their doctoral titles or face fines, which they complied with. Wasser relinquished his stipend and later apologized to the district.
The law requires several conditions be met for educators to receive tuition assistance and receive pay increases for higher degrees or other academic course work. The course or degree has to be related to an employees current or future job responsibilities and the institution must be accredited.
The law also requires either the superintendent of schools or, in the case of a superintendent, the Board of Education approve course work for which they're are seeking tuition assistance from the district.
"The cost of education is high enough in New Jersey, and there is far too much waste. I am personally very pleased that the governor has taken the correct action to turn off this particular leaky faucet," Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said in a prepared statement. "Our public school systems must be protected."
Wasser retires in June, ending 23 years in the district. He currently earns $215,000 a year in addition to benefits such as medical insurance and a vehicle.