Gov. Murphy Slams Teacher Union Boss Behavior In Undercover Video

Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday slammed what appeared to be possible inappropriate behavior of teacher union bosses in undercover videos published last week.

Two teacher union bosses in New Jersey have been suspended after undercover cameras portrayed them appearing to make insensitive remarks about student beatings and other controversial incidents that may not have even happened, according to reports.

"If it's true, it's completely unforgivable and unacceptable," Murphy said during a press conference on gun violence on Monday.

The controversial videos were posted Project Veritas, which has been accused of publishing videos and editing them in a way so they promote a conservative agenda. The New Jersey Education Association has accused the group of promoting falsehoods.

Murphy did note the group's reputation and said he'd like to see the tapes "unedited." But even in their current form, he said, they are "pretty unacceptable."

"I'd like to see the tapes unedited, but it's pretty unappetizing and unacceptable stuff," he said.

After he was told that Senate President Steve Sweeney may ask for a hearing on the videos, Murphy said: "I don't blame him."

"Should we look at anything that endangers kids? Absolutely," Murphy said.

The NJEA also released a statement saying it does not condone "the abuse or mistreatment of children or the failure to properly report allegations of abuse."

"That is the antithesis of what NJEA members stand for as professional educators," the statement said.

To ensure that appropriate practices are followed, the NJEA is commissioning an independent review of the practices of its local affiliates and staff.

"The purpose of that review is to ensure that every staff member and local affiliate leader understands and clearly communicates the responsibility of all school employees to report any suspected abuse of children," according to the statement. "Based on that review, NJEA will undertake appropriate training to ensure that takes place in every local and in every instance.

"There is no place for any ambiguity about the responsibility of every adult, in every position within our public schools, to protect the wellbeing of all students."

A Hamilton Township, Mercer County school employee has been suspended after a hidden camera showed him appearing to say he would not report an incident of a teacher beating a student, according to nj.com.

The Union City teachers union president also has been suspended after the release of an undercover video that shows her denigrating some of the city's students, according to nj.com. In the video, she seems to suggest that a teacher not report that he hurt a student.

In the Hamilton Township video, a Veritas employee posing as the sister-in-law of a fictitious middle school teacher talks to a man identified as Hamilton Township Education Association President David R. Perry.

In the video, Perry and the Veritas employee appear to talk about what steps would be taken if the student reported what the district says was a fictitious incident of assault. Hamilton Township Superintendent Scott Rocco released a statement saying the "individual" was suspended, according to nj.com.

"Any allegations of an individual taking actions to circumvent this core mission are not only disheartening, but they are also inappropriate and unacceptable," Rocco said. "We as a school district do not accept these actions and will take every measure possible to assure our students are safe. Once notified of this video, our district took immediate action and opened an investigation into the comments. We have also alerted the authorities."

"Hamilton Township School District has a process in place to address issues related to misconduct," he added. "We take these reports seriously and follow district protocols, policies, and legal requirements. We will continue to do so, as our students’ safety should never be in question. "

In the Union City incident, Kathleen Valencia, president of the Union City Education Association, has been suspended after she was confronted in a video by a woman working for Project Veritas, according to nj.com. The woman poses as the sister of a Union City teacher who is worried about losing his job for injuring a student.

"The kid's fine," Valencia says in the video. "The kid's not hurt."

"I know dirtbags. I have taught the dirtbags. They have a whole dirtbag class at the the high school. I have taught the dirt bag class," she also appears to say.

Gov. Phil Murphy photo