High School Basketball Coach Calls Student Future Welfare Recipient (VIDEO)

A high school basketball coach is coming under fire for making offensive comments to his students after being caught on tape.

Marcus Williams Jr., a senior at Winnetonka High School, filed a racial harassment complaint with the North Kansas School District after coach Derek Howard called him a "future welfare recipient," KCTV5.com reports.

Williams said when photography students asked him to pose for a picture, the coach stopped and said the words "future welfare recipient" should be printed beneath the photo.

"I just felt belittled, crushed and utterly discouraged," Williams told the news network.

But according to Williams, this is not a rare occurrence. He said, in his past two years of interacting with Howard, the coach routinely said negative and demeaning comments either directly to African American students or about them. So much so that the student chose not to try out for basketball this year.

Williams' father, Marcus Williams Sr. was outraged by the news and wants Howard removed from both his coaching and teaching positon.

"I speak that for every black African American in that school," Williams Sr. told the news outlet. "Now you gotta deal with the parents. We see you now. It's over."

Howard's comment was the last straw for the student, and Williams Jr. took the recording to his principal. Although the coach apologized, Williams said he doubts he was sincere.

Dr. Dan Clemens, the district assistant superintendent released a statement saying:

"The behaviors reported by this student do not reflect our professional conduct stands and will not be tolerated. We expect all students to be treated with respect by all staff at all times."

According to Kansas City news network KSHB, Williams Jr. transferred out of Winnetonka High School after receiving several online threats from angry classmates.

Howard has been placed on paid leave while under investigation and could not be reached by the network for comment.

CORRECTION: This article previously reported that the school district was the North Kansas School District rather than the North Kansas City School District located in Missouri.

The article also includes new information about the parents' response to online threats Williams Jr. received.

Comments

[edsimon77]

09:13 AM on 11/19/2011

What a mean thing to say.

Also it seems many Black kids have low self-esteem. A teacher shouldn't be able to crush your spirit like that.

[Nicholas Freeman]

10:59 AM on 11/20/2011

I think most kids have low self-esteem not just one particular race of children. I don't think anyone should be able to just crush your spirit especially not your teacher. I would hate to see this kid try and be in the military, anytime someone of higher authority would yell at him I'm sure he would report them. In the end it's called "Self-Esteem for a reason" hopefully the kids spirits grow oppose to wanting to call quits cause things don't go his way.

[jayes]

07:04 PM on 11/18/2011

potentially constructive comment for someone else in his life. maybe a competitive peer.

[slfoster01]

04:27 PM on 11/18/2011

Do you people comment on the story you [supposedly] read or on your own opinions? I listened to the video and read, then re-read the story. Where in the report is there any indication that this kid has poor grades? He's a senior; that's the only information about his status in the school! The fact that he's a senior means he's gotten this far- no indications he plans to drop out or is in danger of not completing his high school education. Stereotype much?

[vidalia01]

02:56 PM on 11/18/2011

Play the whole comment. He says if you don't get good grades. Well that is exactly correct. We preach "get an education to get ahead" Statistics show H.S. drop outs income are less than H.S. grads. So the sooner these kids realize education and good grades yield better futures the better off they will be. Black, white or purple, poor grades yield poor earning potential. Suck it up and get studying and stop being a whimp.

[Nicholas Freeman]

11:01 AM on 11/20/2011

F&F

[qdog112]

02:14 PM on 11/18/2011

That's the kind of encouragement kids need. Just tell them they'll fail enough and they will start to believe it.

[Raasta]

11:04 PM on 11/17/2011

Again, It should now be written that blacks are the only race that should never be offended and if they do become offended everyone in a 100 mile radius loose their jobs.

[qdog112]

02:07 PM on 11/18/2011

He should be fired and you should learn to spell "lose". Idiot.

[Hugh Briggs]

02:11 PM on 11/18/2011

Are you defending what the Coach said?
If so, why ?
Do you believe the coach should be held accountable for his unprofessional behavior?

[christina444]

08:57 PM on 11/17/2011

"I just felt belittled, crushed and utterly discouraged," Williams told the news network....
this is so heartbreaking to read! This coach needs to go immediately... and the "fellow classmates making threats to Marcus that compelled him to change schools should be suspended or expelled!!!

[Shogun of Harlem]

08:42 PM on 11/17/2011

Hey young man, go back to that teacher and tell him not to be a future pedophile, if he isn't one already. The arrogance of some people is amazing.

[Sally Cooper]

05:34 PM on 11/17/2011

"Future Welfare Recipient" Well? Look the situation from a logistical angle, what are the statistically possibilities? Fact, the student had a prior history of poor grades and disruptive behavior; Fact, the student had been disbanded from playing sports due to failing grades, and disruptive behavior! Fact, coaches can differ from teachers; being a coach has different boundaries and expectations, if every 'coach' was scrutinized for every statement they made, lol well the United States wouldn't have much of a competitive sport cohort? How many people can find and quote the statistical data that equates failing grades to welfare recipients? I'm speculating it's above the medium. Why are the parents 'just now' concerned about their son? I beleive playing the race card is an uneducated way of getting attention; throwing a juvenile temper tamper! "class, race, and sex/ gender; Why is the argument racial and not,'sexual/gender defamation as well? What happened to freedom of speech? If anything, hopefully this incident will be instilled in this young man and inspire him and his father to concentrate on education, better grades, and better performance, instead of 'transferring out of the school and running from the problems". If this family cannot handle this type of honesty and deal with this issue, how will they handle 'real life' situations such as losing a job w/o education and coping skills to reflect on? Think about it!

[WendellPerrySociety]

06:11 PM on 11/17/2011

You are really an idiot to take that much effort to justify the acts of this poor excuse of a coach/educator. This has nothing to do with freedom of speech - he is on the job - his job being to educate and inspire young people - and not belittle them.

[Sally Cooper]

06:22 PM on 11/17/2011

"Idiot" that would refer to 'students and parents who don't care about their grades or an education...once again equating education to welfare, if you listen to the video, the coach clearly stated...."students who get bad grades" ! How can anyone justify letting a student pass for two years with F's?

[Raasta]

11:15 PM on 11/17/2011

Wendell go eat one. Its not even about the educator, Its about all the crying these blacks do. boo flippin hoo. poor me i got my feelings hurt. Do you know how many white kids go through the same thing from black teachers (and students) that go unreported because they either dont care or dont have "white voices" to shed light on it. Think about why there isnt there a "white voices".

[christina444]

09:06 PM on 11/17/2011

Freedom of speech does not mean that adults are permitted to abuse children!!!
This was not the first time this coach made remarks... and if it was not racist, why didn't he single out a white boy or girl? And the comment "I believe playing the race card is an uneducated way of getting attention" makes absolutely no sense and speaking of uneducated, where did you learn to spell????

[Mikki R Wright]

03:19 PM on 11/17/2011

Pay attention here people. it says, and I quote directly from the story, "the coach routinely said negative and demeaning comments either directly to African American students or about them." He didn't say this to any other race, but specifically to African American students. While I know our youth have a tendency to slip and slide, you can't tell me that EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS HE MADE THAT DEROGATORY COMMENTS TO WERE 'FALLING BEHIND IN THEIR GRADES'. I'm still amazed that people just don't get it. If he said that to every student regardless of race, then race would not be an issue. If you call yourself wanting to give someone encouragement, that damn sure isn't the way to do it. Telling someone that if they don't pull their grades up they'll end up selling cosmetics isn't degrading; but telling someone if they don't do well in school they'll end up on welfare, now that's touchy, especially when it's so broadcast that many African American do receive some type of public assistance. But it's never stated how many Caucasians receive it. Everything we do is wrong, but it's okay for everyone else to do it and skirt under the radar. Right is right, wrong is wrong. What the coach has been doing is not inspiring anyone but demeaning people. He was lucky to have gotten off with paid leave; I don't think he even deserved that.

[El Chingaso]

02:27 PM on 11/17/2011

Sometimes, young men need a baseball bat across the bridge of their noses. Honesty hurts...but it's a great motivator for those who truly excel in this country. If you feel belittled, your life will be...little. And cost taxpayers enormous sums in the process.

What a bunch of p***ys...

[qdog112]

02:10 PM on 11/18/2011

Only one - you!....and a stupid one at that.

[Hugh Briggs]

02:13 PM on 11/18/2011

You fail at making coherent statements.

[Mercedes Lawson]

02:23 PM on 11/17/2011

I don't know if people have already mention this but it looked like the coach at end of the video said very quickly, "Get your grades up". If a black coach said the same thing, will it still be offensive?

And I for one hope if this kid has low grades, that his Father is actually involved in his son's education. The coach was too blunt and insensitive.

[Nicholas Freeman]

11:20 AM on 11/20/2011

F&F

[Nicholas Freeman]

12:21 PM on 11/17/2011

I'm sure a lot of his words were taken out of context. My father who is African American and a former Professor would get on students of races all the time about sagging informing them of embracing a having a thug mentality. Does that make him a racist our just being honest.? We have became so sensitive to every little thing in America and we tend to overlook the actual bigger problems we have going on. And the same kids who my father use to address and enlighten now as he is older when they see him thank him.

[Eric Daniels]

01:28 PM on 11/17/2011

Let's have a conversation about white kids who listen to Heavy Metal dressing like Biker Gangs or white kids dressing like Goths who by stereotype kill small children ( Damon Echols) and white kids who embrace a violent mentality and kill their fellow students. When I see more than one White Male teenager I fear they are going to murder people in public. Well I am all for being "RACIALLY HONEST" how about you.

[Nicholas Freeman]

02:05 PM on 11/17/2011

I'm African American myself and was only voicing my opinion. I feel as "we" assuming you're african american as well tend to blow everything out of proportion. This matter alone could have been addressed in house between the Teacher and the parents. The teacher didn't physically abuse the boy our anything as far as we know. And you're going to have every race have it's bad seeds who do hate crimes. I'm sorry you feel like every single time you see more then one white mail teenager they're going to murder people in publc. Have we forgotten the DC Sniper? Our how about the kid from Virginia Tech? Race has nothing to do with Stupidity and Ignorance. The worst event I experienced in my life was in Baltimore,Maryland when I was younger during a Parage were chaos broke lose and multiple gun shot were fired. Want to take a guess what racial group of people were involved? Oppose to blaming a race of people start blaming the individuals for there actions not the race. That same fear you have of multiple white teenagers those same teens might be the one's there to call help for you.

[Nicholas Freeman]

12:15 PM on 11/17/2011

Maybe it was a poor choice of words, but maybe he was trying to give the kid a wake up call to get his act together. Lessons aren't only learned in the classroom.

[Eric Daniels]

01:29 PM on 11/17/2011

BS

[Nicholas Freeman]

02:10 PM on 11/17/2011

You find it BS that Lessons aren't only learned in the Classroom? I've learned my most meaningful lesson in life from elders past and present from them giving advice. BS For it being a poor choice of words? Thought that one was a Fact. And BS for us not personally knowing this mans intent behind his words? I personally don't kow this man our his intent do you?

[Nicholas Freeman]

08:50 PM on 11/17/2011

For whatever reason I see your post were flagged. I'm curious what your statements were. We can agree to disagree as long as one individual is not trying to attack the other. I have my personal opinion as you have yours I'm just someone who is color blind I look deeper and only see people. If someon needed help and I had it I would help them regardless of race. Some of the people who covered my back and made sure I was able to make it back home from foreign soil were people of different colors. When you're in a War Zone you dont care about Black,White,Asian our whatever you focus on protecting your battle buddies and making it him oppose to in a pine box. Once again I'm nor was I defending the Coaches actions I stated he used a poor choice of words I'm just saying we don't know his intent because we don't personally know him.

[Haditup2here]

07:24 PM on 11/17/2011

Where in the article did it mention that the student had poor grades or poor behavior? Btw, I was a Black Student at a majority white high school before the merging of a city and county school system and I was talked down to from a rac.ist teacher in an Honors Algebra II class. I had never gotten in trouble and had aced all of my math and science courses prior to taking her class. Granted, some students have thuggish behavior and do need to be told to get their act together. However, there is a respectful way versus a disrespectful way of addressing a person. . . and when I looked at the facial expression and the tone of the voice of the person on camera, it had put me in mind of the teacher that I had for my Algebra II class the first semester before she had transferred to a middle school. All I am saying is that 1.) this treatment does occur (even today) and 2.) you shouldn't assume that such actions maybe justified since these are the very justifications that people use to abuse their power.

[Nicholas Freeman]

08:39 PM on 11/17/2011

I agree about the respectful ways of doing things and in no way am I defending this Coaches actions. And there are plenty of instances of abuse of power we see it with our police officers right now around the country with the extra aggressive force. I'm sure one thing all those negative comments your teacher made about you made you a greater person and push even harder I'm sure. Adversity can be motivation I know what's like being the only African American in a squad back in my Army days not once did I complain our cared what was said about me. I only pushed myself higher and held myself at a higher standard then I allowed them too. We agree about the thuggish behavior because that's one of the biggest things I think if our youth and even some adults could manage to change would make a world of difference. We as African Americans have to stop turning our heads and making excuses for our people and start being accountable for our actions. You and I both know we need to do a better job as a community and society as a whole oppose to giving the world bulletin board material to mock us by.

[Nicholas Freeman]

08:39 PM on 11/17/2011

None the less I respect your point of view although we may see things a little different.

[Paul J Bucksbee]

11:05 AM on 11/17/2011

if this is the worst thing this kid has to go through he is lucky.all of this whining and acting like black people are the only ones that have any troubles. the white man has just about enslaved himself to prove they are not racist.i saw a video a while back where two black women beat the every lovin crap out of a white woman in public that was half their size because she wore an anti obama shirt.but blacks are not racist? i have walked down the street in NY city minding my own business bothering noone and had a group of black men calling me cracker among other things. for no reason at all.but blacks are not racist? i know better

[KDMac]

11:38 AM on 11/17/2011

Disagree. The coach apparently has a history of saying such things. He should lose his job and slink away.

[simsum]

11:44 AM on 11/17/2011

You can type better if you take off the sheet.

[Paul J Bucksbee]

04:01 PM on 11/17/2011

that was just wrong,the sheet part, I know I type badly lol