Gov. Christie Writes School Excuse Note For Boy At Town Hall In Garfield

GARFIELD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie received an unusual request at a town hall meeting Wednesday.

Eleven-year-old Peter Schwartz asked the governor for a note excusing him from school.

Christie pulled out a pen, flipped over a "reserved seating" sign, scribbled a note to the boy's 6th grade teacher and then signed his name.

"It just says 'Please excuse Peter from school today, he was with me,'" Christie read the note aloud.

When Christie called on the boy during the question-and-answer portion of an event in Garfield, the boy asked what he should do about being bullied by someone in authority.

The governor told Peter to enlist his parents' support and tell the bully's boss.

If that doesn't work, Christie suggested a call from the state education commissioner might.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)