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LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

nytimes.com

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Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#91

Post by Someone1234 »

basetop wrote: post #72

As a minority, I hope this isn't another "minority schools do well turned scam". Seems like we have these "amazing successes" turned to "scams" every couple of years. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/us/tm-landry-college-prep... If it is a success, why turn it into a national story? Doesn't that put more unnecessary pressure on these schools and kids to "succeed"? Wouldn't that put more pressure on these schools to…

> As a minority, I hope this isn't another "minority schools do well turned scam". Seems like we have these "amazing successes" turned to "scams" every couple of years.

It is a normal public school that is getting additional funding, and funding for specific additional programs (e.g. parental outreach, after school program).

Worst case scenario the funding dries up and it returns to being a completely normal public school with normal levels of public funding.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#92

Post by cageface »

mindfulplay wrote: post #61

It's a shame that a private citizen has do this. Reflects poorly on our country that the economically disadvantaged really do not have a choice or a voice. And these are not people who choose to be poor or incapable. They really don't have any other option.

All the current left/right political dogfighting and cultural warfare is a smokescreen for what's really going on, which is a class war. And the rich are winning. Unfortunately it seems increasingly likely that in their limitless greed they are destroying the fabric of the society that made it possible for them to become so wealthy. Sadly, history seems to keep repeating this theme down the centuries.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#93

Post by cabaalis »

whatshisface wrote: post #66
mindfulplay wrote: post #61

It's a shame that a private citizen has do this. Reflects poorly on our country that the economically disadvantaged really do not have a choice or a voice. And these are not people who choose to be poor or incapable. They really don't have any other option.

You could also say that it reflects well on our country that a private citizen was able to realize that something needed to be done differently, and then make the change themselves instead of hassling through a decades-long "change the bureaucracy" adventure while competing with seven other equally motivated individuals who also want to change the education system, but in completely different ways...

You have touched on the fundamental divide in American society. Do it yourself because you want it done and since you have the resources or the drive, versus wait for someone else to do it or force everyone else to since you lack the resources or the drive.

Even politicians who spend so much time and effort highlighting inequalities in society are able to do so because they had to drive to make themselves to do it. If their manner of achieving things is for good or ill is up for debate, but there is no arguing that they are where they are because they chose to go for it.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step...

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#94

Post by the_cat_kittles »

cageface wrote: post #92
mindfulplay wrote: post #61

It's a shame that a private citizen has do this. Reflects poorly on our country that the economically disadvantaged really do not have a choice or a voice. And these are not people who choose to be poor or incapable. They really don't have any other option.

All the current left/right political dogfighting and cultural warfare is a smokescreen for what's really going on, which is a class war. And the rich are winning. Unfortunately it seems increasingly likely that in their limitless greed they are destroying the fabric of the society that made it possible for them to become so wealthy. Sadly, history seems to keep repeating this theme down the centuries.

uhhh. only one side is trying to give money and services and power to poor people (albeit very often stupidly and not enough). the other side actively seeks to disenfranchise, and consolidate power and money.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#95

Post by spaginal »

TaylorAlexander wrote: post #86
spaginal wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not a shame. At a time in this country it was expected that citizens of means stepped into the gaps that government either couldn’t go into or couldn’t do well, and some of our best institutions come from this philanthropy. I applaud Lebron.

School is not supposed to be funded by philanthropy in America.

I would argue differently.

Government has shown time and again that it’s one size fits all approach towards schooling isn’t working. Combine their poor execution, purposeful lack of civics training, with special interests and rent seeking, for example, school textbooks.

We are leaving way too many kids behind as it is. It’s turned into government day care.

I would argue school is where citizens need to have the greatest choice, the most impact, and get the most involved with their own dollars.

If our future is in education, it needs to be done differently than it is now.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#96

Post by flukus »

spaginal wrote: post #95
TaylorAlexander wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

School is not supposed to be funded by philanthropy in America.

I would argue differently. Government has shown time and again that it’s one size fits all approach towards schooling isn’t working. Combine their poor execution, purposeful lack of civics training, with special interests and rent seeking, for example, school textbooks. We are leaving way too many kids behind as it is. It’s turned into government day care. I would argue school is where citizens need to have the great…

> Government has shown time and again that it’s one size fits all approach towards schooling isn’t working. Combine their poor execution, purposeful lack of civics training, with special interests and rent seeking, for example, school textbooks.

Government has not shown that at all, look around the world an you'll find plenty of examples of government providing quality education to all.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#97

Post by jonknee »

owyn wrote: post #87
jonknee wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FTA: > The school’s $2 million budget is funded by the district, roughly the same amount per pupil that it spends in other schools. But Mr. James’s foundation has provided about $600,000 in financial support for additional teaching staff to help reduce class sizes, and an additional hour of after-school programming and tutors.

That seems like a pretty good result for 30% in additional funding. According to wikipedia, the federal gov't only provides 8% (or maybe 10%, I saw some different numbers) of the total budget for primary education at the moment... Total spending (federal+state+local) is apparently around $620B so an additional ~30% kick from the federal government would add $180B for a total of around $800B. Is that worth it? The mil…

Funding varies wildy based on location as it comes from local property taxes. Not all schools would need such increases. Thanks to that local funding scheme, the US tends to spend the most on the kids that need it the least.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#98

Post by throwaway5752 »

_lessthan0 wrote: post #45

Top comments, shock people cant feel good about something because it didnt happen to them. I was hoping for some uplifting commentary but like all other social media sites HN is going down a bad path.

I think you could lead by example and post your own uplifting commentary, and that would be more effective.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#99

Post by ericd »

TaylorAlexander wrote: post #74
dannycastonguay wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a moment of pride that this country has citizens like him. It reflects well on the values of some of the celebrities like him, and hopefully it is inspiring others, thanks also in part to good journalism. It also didn't happen without the efforts of the kids who had to believe it was possible, put in the hours, and demonstrated proficiency on the tests.

Ah yes, America, the country where we take pride in the fact that a few school children will be bailed out of a broken system by some rich folks who want to see change. Let’s not get caught up in why this is needed or the millions of students who haven’t been so lucky. America is proof that rich people can make the lives of a few people better! /sarcasm

This is an experiment to try something and show that it can work. Then, local governments/school boards can use it as an example and copy some of the successful pieces at larger scale. Your cynicism about rich people helping just a few is unwarranted here.

Re: LeBron James school that was considered an experiment is showing promise

#100

Post by chriselles »

_qbjt wrote: post #71

This story resonates with me deeply. I grew up in a lower income, single parent household to a family environment plagued with drug addiction and feelings of economic hopelessness. I was on track to drop out by my senior year of high school. My father (who was always in and out of prison) committed suicide my freshman year of high school. I was distraught but blessed. My English teacher at the time noticed what I was…

Thank you for sharing your experience.

This looks pretty cool!

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