Add NJ Governor Chris Christie

to the "I Hate Public Education" fan club. He says he will provide aid to school districts, but only on the proviso teachers take salary freezes.

This is more divide-and-conquer nonsense from Republicans by trying to create anger among people who have been thrown out of work or who have seen their wages frozen or even cut:

Christie told The Associated Press in an interview that he will offer more state aid to all school districts whose teachers agree to a wage freeze for the 2011 fiscal year.

Christie said nearly one in 10 New Jerseyans are out of work, but teachers are getting 4 percent annual raises — far higher than the rate of inflation.

"I don't think it's wrong to say in these difficult times that they step up and make some sacrifice," Christie said. "We're not talking about forgoing raises forever. We're talking about forgoing raises for one year."

The offer won't cost the state any more money. The Republican is offering to give districts all the money the state would save on Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes as a result of the wage freezes.