D West is from Irvington, NJ, and overcame poverty and obstacles to get his psych degree from Rutgers. He's made it big--and now has his own show that tapes at the Prudential Center in Newark. His programs and speaking engagements are probably worth a chunk of change.
But the question is, should Montclair High School be paying such pretty pennies? As I reported Friday, D West and his D Team are getting $65,000 in stimulus money to pump up the football team's 2.0 grade point averages. They'll also stop by Mt. Hebron and Glen Field middle schools. West and Co. will come every two weeks for six months armed with their motivational program. Note: On D's website, he regularly offers 30-minute to full-day public school programs.
I called D West for an interview, so I'll let you know what he has to say if his peeps get back to me. In the meantime, here is what one local resident, Christopher Swenson, owner of The Tutoring Club in Montclair, had to say. He thinks there might be better ways to spend $65K:
If the $65,000 had been spent at the Tutoring Club of Montclair, according to our current rates, this would have bought 2080 hours of tutoring. If those hours were spread among the 22 students, each would have received about 94.5 hours of tutoring. With our individualized curriculum, our students progress an average of one academic year in a subject for every 30 hours of tutoring. In other words if a student were two grade levels behind in core subject such as reading, math, writing, etc., we would expect to get him a full year ahead within 90 hours-progressing three full years.
Sounds like it's too late. The money is spent. I just wish these D engagements were open to more people. But I'm not a football player and, unfortunately, I'm also the wrong gender and age to try out for the team.
How would you spend $65K in educational stimulus money? And of course, I must ask, do you think an elected versus appointed school board would be held more accountable for the decision making process? Whatever you believe, head to those polls tomorrow to vote on the school board issue--oh, and also on that little governor's race, too.
Digg
Delicious
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (20)
Kristen - why don't you contact the football coach who came up with the idea for an interview? It seems like he could offer some insight as to why this costly program may benefit the students as opposed to tutoring. (I'm not saying it would, I just think it would be interesting to hear what he has to say.)
I, too, would be interested in hearing what the coach or other town officials would have to say as to why they decided to go with what seems to be a totally outlandish expense (even if it was with "free" money).
As far as you being the "wrong gender" to have tried out for the football team: That's a bunch of BS. There have been girls on NJ HS football teams since at least the early / mid 1990s and to tell a young girl that she's the "wrong gender" to play a sport she likes at a competitive level is doing her a disservice.
" As I reported Friday,"
Actually you didn't break the story you clipped it from NJ.com.
"I reported" in journo lingo means you broke the story.
Doesn't mean there can't be any more reporting on the story though.
If I had broken the story, I'd have written the word broken. I reported it and am still reporting it with calls out that hopefully will get answered.
GNM, How many girls do you know on the football team? Just asking.
I'm sorry to break your bubble but cutting and pasting a quote from NJ.com does not constitute "reporting" by any stretch of the imagination. That's not to criticize the usefulness in your passing along the story. But it's not reporting unless you add NEW information to the story. Then you could say (for example, should it come to pass) "as I reported after interviewing the coach...."
I graduated from Indiana University School of Journalism if you can believe that. They'll give a diploma to any old blogger these days!
Below, I present you a report from Mirriam Webster:
REPORT
Function: verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a : to give an account of : relate b : to describe as being in a specified state
2 a : to serve as carrier of (a message) b : to relate the words or sense of (something said) c : to make a written record or summary of d (1) : to watch for and write about the newsworthy aspects or developments of : cover (2) : to prepare or present an account of for broadcast
3 a (1) : to give a formal or official account or statement of (2) : to return or present (a matter referred for consideration) with conclusions or recommendations b : to announce or relate as the result of investigation c : to announce the presence, arrival, or sighting of d : to make known to the proper authorities e : to make a charge of misconduct againstintransitive verb 1 a : to give an account : tell b : to present oneself c : to account for oneself d : to work as a subordinate
2 : to make, issue, or submit a report
3 : to act in the capacity of a reporter
Kristen,
From my own personal experiences: 2.
The town next to mine had a QB with an arm like a rocket launcher and could take a blind-side tackle with the best of them. She also played goalie on the lacrosse team because (in her words) "the girl's team is for wimps."
The other was on the Freshman team in my town the year my brothers were Seniors (which had me out of HS for 3 years...).
There was also a girl on my high school's JV wrestling squad.
GNM,
The point I was trying to make: This particular $65K motivational program geared to football players will probably not impact many, if any, young girls at MHS.
See?? With that broad definition------
WE'RE ALL REPORTERS!!!!
So there is NO need for any reporters' shield, since we're all, you know, reporters.
Here.... Watch:
"Turkey Hill Ice Cream is on sale at Shop Rite."
I just reported news. (Without a degree from IU.)
Protect me.
I won't reveal my source!!!!
This just in...
"Holy Crap! Rough Crowd!"
Rough crowd is right! Why are some of you so rude? Seriously? Do you have nothing better to do than come on here & knit-pick EVERYTHING? I feel bad for Kristen. Does it really matter if she "broke" the story, or "reported" it? NO, and I'm sure you all know that, you just get some weird joy out of critisizing others. There are a few of you who just like to attack. I know - I've posted innocent things before (once a completely innocent post about housekeeping tips... and I got attacked!) It's almost comical. But why you do it is what I don't get. Nothing better to do with your time?
This is a great site for local info. But the discussions so often end up like this one did... pointless! It'd be an even better site if that didn't happen. Be nice to each other is what I'm trying to say!
I'm with rubynyc. What's with all the haters?
Wow,
It all sounds like racism in America to me. This is the typical response when a black man in America is successful and making a global difference in the community, particularly with children. Do you know all the facts regarding the program, no? The Montclair School District is consulting with Pro Athletes, an educational leadership consulting company, not and individual Mr. West as reported by the Star Ledger.
A renowned minority educational leadership consultant who is one of America's leading youth experts nationally is placed on the chopping block, because his company provides leadership support to school districts. Racism!! The white owned educational consulting companies are benefiting from billions of dollars in stimulus funds and money spent each year on educational consulting service and products in our schools. Come on, a black owned company, a minority business man is placed on notice in the public because he secured an educational contract in the Montclair School District! How frivilous is that, nothing else to report in the media! Point the finger at a honest, hard working black man who is making a difference in the schools and taking care of himself legally. Tell me , what is this really about?
How many white consulting firms and companies financial consulting information with the Montclair School District is being reported in the Star Ledger and discussed in the news? D. West is a black man who has a proven track record of success in America and in Montclair Schools. Shame on Montclair. That was reported because it is positive news!
How many white consultants are being talked about on the national media wire who have educational contracts in the schools. I can almost guarantee that there are white owned consulting companies and vendors that have secured over two hundred thousand dollars for their services. Racism....
The negative dialogue on this blog is a joke! The district is doing a great job with the stimulus money. Mr. West's consulting company is facilitating curriculum based workshops for students, teachers, and parents. The district is consulting with Pro Athletes, over ten consultants, not one individual as reported by the New Jersey Star Ledger. Are you aware of the parental involvement support for parents, the leadership workshops and after school in-home support services that was not mentioned? No, wow, how juvenile is the judgment and irrational reactions! Impartial, responsible adults seek all the facts and truth before insulting others and posting nasty comments on a blog.
This goes out to all the negative people who rushed to judgment and took the blind leap into ignorance and attacked the board members, the Superintendent, staff members and D. West's integrity and the value of his program. Did you speak to the Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Superintendent of Schools? No, you threw the district leaders and program under the bus!
There are approximately 12 - 15 elite professionals working with Pro Athletes consulting program in the district. There are internship opportunities for children, field trips, after school home base support for parents and additional celebrity and leadership mentoring support services. There is no room for racism and politics when school district leaders are position children for successful outcomes. Now district leaders are taken away from their daily jobs to address the media, ignorant blog comments, and insensitive ego driven, power hungry want-to-be Superintendents and Board leaders.
Mr. West visits children’s homes and talks to families in the community. The Star Ledger reporter who is Caucasian didn’t write about that or the leadership initiatives, or mention one word that the guess Super Bowl Champs said during their visit or include the former NBA Emmy Award Show producer who spoke about technology etc. Why, because it was positive, and all of the facilitators there were black! A negative or contentious twist/story line sells papers!
There are several Super Bowl Champions working with your district for six months, not one but several; in addition to other elite business professionals, motivational consultants, professional athletes and Mr. West, the renowned TV Personality and Found of the Bound For Greatness Celebrity Leadership Program. The reporter didn’t mention that! What a slant and twist! Therefore, the funding for this program doesn’t come close to meeting the value of the elite professionals who are participating in Pro Athletes leadership program at the three schools in Montclair! So, bully and attack the board members, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and staff for helping minority students, special needs students, socially and economically disadvantage students and some of the athletes. Your attacks tells a huge story about your integrity and soul!
This is why elite educational personalities and former professional athletes refuse to work in some school districts in America! There is to much wasted energy and politics with people who don’t no what they are talking about. The children need support and outsides are disconnected from reality. To place Mr. West’s picture or your blog page as if he has done something illegal or wrong and question his work with the children and value as a consultant is reprehensible behavior! This is a CNN story, it’s pure racism and hot air! All of you should be a shame of yourselves, you attack a great man, his program and humanitarian efforts, this is cold and heartless! The children lose. You have spoiled the motivation of the students, teachers, administration, board members, community and all of the members facilitating the program in Montclair! What a shame! Racism....
Is this about the election! Are adults using the election to create leverage for personal growth at the expense of the children in the district. That’s sick, shame on you! When a black man moves into a position of power and delivers positive change in the community he is a target and an immediate threat.
Some reporters twist stories and omitted and pertinent information to a story to create chaos and drama. The reporter for the NJ Star Ledger didn’t mention any of Mr. West’s accolades such as being honored by the President’s Office of The United States of America for his dedicated work with children, or Pro Athletes being honored on the WGN TV Network as the General Motors Minority Business of the Week, or Mr. West being a nationally acclaimed On-Air Television Personality who worked with NBC Television (10 years national on-air TV motivational consulting experience), or the fact that he is an author of several books and was voted Americas leading celebrity youth motivational consultant for 9 years straight or mentioned the point of Mr. West speaking to well-over 3 million children in schools from 1992 - 2009 or his sixteen years experience as an educational leadership consultant or his national health and wellness appearances in national magazines and on television or mention the shows he appeared on as a motivational consultant were some of the highest rate shows in daytime-talk-television, or write about him being a renowned wellness personality that was an exclusive endorsed fitness consultant for Nike, Inc. (3 years) and Fila USA (4 years), oh, did you see him on the Oprah Show. You get the point, I will stop there! How many of you with the hot air have achieved what this young man has in the community? Mr. West is recognized and respected globally, and he should be. Shame on you!
The district took a proactive approach to seek one of America’s leading educational consultants and leaders who has proven track record of success on a national and international level. For this, the district is struck down by inconsiderate, insensitive, rush to judgment, snobs in the community. Racism, racism, racism at it’s best!
This man speaks to gang members, provides peer mediations, writes leadership strategies for our schools, communities, enhances students character in schools, works with parents, teachers, and saves children’s lives. Mr. West puts his life on the line in the community to help keep our children and the communities safe. Do you walk in the heart of our inner-cities at night and help people, do you walk children home who are out late at night hang around on the streets because their parents are not home and/or on drugs? What a slap in the face by people who don’t have the facts. It is a sad day in Montclair! Racism, racism.....
The children in the community don’t respect you (the big mouths). Those who rushed to judgment, ask yourselves, what child have I saved and help in my community or in America? What national youth causes I am connected to and leading? What strategies are schools and school districts using that I facilitate? Ignorance is bliss without all of the facts! Check yourselves.....
I’m glad I don’t live in Montclair with such disrespectful snobs! Countless children value and respect Mr. West’s advise, they look up to him as a role model and leader in the community. You don’t have to appreciate his support or value his professional service as an elite consultant in America. You will respect the children we are working with in Montclair Schools. Close your narcissistic mouths! Did you attend the workshops at any of the schools? Did you know there was proven assessment information from previous facilitation by Pro Athletes in the Montclair School District? Why are we here? The Montclair Public School District took a proactive step to improve its students academic life and it is being criticized! Racism kills dreams, envy destroys communities and nations! Are you a part of the problem?
Mr. West is a powerful leader in the community who has developed a winning program in the schools that is positioning children, teachers, parents and school districts toward success. Shame on Montclair, find something worthy to do with your time! What legacy are you leaving in the community and/or with children! Shame on Montclair....
For all of the people hiding behind your computers that are killing our children’s dreams in the schools, please take your fingers off the keypads and be a part of the solutions. Stop typing and talking and do something worthy to combat the gang violence and drugs in the schools! Do something positive with your time to help parents who have lost children to senseless acts of violence. Join a winning community organization and give back to communities that have major issues in the schools. Help the at-risk, socially and economically disadvantaged, and special needs students.
Check the facts before you start running off at the month, learn how to appreciate a great opportunity for students in your school district. Racism, it smells in Montclair!
You made this a national issue because of total stupidity! How do you think the children feel who are in the leadership program? You have insulted our children and your district leaders with your insensitive attacks. This is a reflection of the pretentious people who only care about themselves. This is an issue for the NAACP! Before I go, please call the reporter and asked her why she didn’t report a complete story and chose to slant and twist the program. Ask her why she referred to the athletes in the program as jocks of the school as opposed to student leaders. That’s disrespectful! The Star Ledger and the reporter has a responsibility to report true and accurate information and they didn’t! The reporter and the Star Ledger owes the students, school district and community in Montclair an apology.
Please call the Star Ledger and address them appropriately if you are seeking resolve. The problem is with the New Jersey Star Ledger, not the district leaders or the program! This is a public lynching of a national minority leader, an accomplished black man who loves children. Take care insensitive, narcissistic, egotistical bashers! Racism..... wow!
Black in America, if you do good follow the rules, stay in school, graduate from college, inspire people of all color, earn a respectable living, live a productive life and commit your life to the community like D. West people will find a way to hang you in public and/or assassinate you like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Racism in America is the story that should be addressed... Yeah, start on the streets in Montclair first! CNN will not cover this story, the truth of the matter, because the Star Ledger is on the chopping block now for distorting the facts, stretching the truth to sell papers and tarnish the integrity of good people.
Keep your head up D. West, you are one in a million an American hero.
Don’t let Montclair get you down....
God bless you!
Racism,
While I'm sure you heart is in the right place and I agree with you on some points, reducing this to race is wrong.
You state: "Black in America, if you do good follow the rules, stay in school, graduate from college, inspire people of all color, earn a respectable living, live a productive life and commit your life to the community like D. West people will find a way to hang you in public and/or assassinate you like Martin Luther King, Jr."
I ask: What about our Black President? Our Black Secretary of State? Our Black Supreme Court Justice (even though too many Black folks discount Justice Thomas, he has and does speak to poor black kids because he was once one). Or our Black Mayors and Governors?
The list is long and proves that you are not relegated to assassination if you follow the rules.
Here, the questions are obvious considering the money involved.
Many Sports heroes will speak to kids without a fee.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Damn racist snobs don't think 22 football players getting some motivational speaking is worth $5000 per hour - what is WRONG with you people?
Interesting,
Racism is racism, you will never see it if it slapped you in the face. Mr. West owns a educational consulting company just like thousands of other white own educational consulting company's. Do you see them on blogs in Montcliar? He runs a successful business and should get paid like everyone else for his service. Racism at its best!
A black man starts his own consulting business out of college and because he is black and played sports he should provide educational consulting support services and training for free! Am I understanding you? You are asking him not to feed his family and do something he doesn't like as much because you think he should do it for free. What a joke, he is an educational consultant and motivational speaker.
He runs a successful business, what does this have to do with professional athletes speaking for free anyway! Do you work for free? Are you asking white consults in the school districts to provide free services? The issues is about stretching the truth and reporting information that was twisted. The issue is about a black man who is doing an outstanding job in your school district who has been isolated and insulted by you and others because he is black!
A black man exposes elite professional to children and teaches character education strategies from the curriculum book he wrote and you feel his services should be free! What dark dream world are some people living in! Did you know he was a school teacher? Did you read his new book?
You make no sense, Mr. West is not a Super Bowl Champion like some of the consults on his elite team of professionals.
The facts, he is a target, because he is a successful black man working in a so called well to do community. Racism smells in the air!
And just because there is a black President in office doesn't mean that racism doesn't exit in America! It is clear, if you are black in America you are treated much differently than whites. Do you know the Mr. West, did you read his books?
Don't insult him with the work for free nonsense, because other athletes speak for free. Other athletes are not Mr. West, they started their careers in sports. He started his career in the schools and the community, giving back, working for free! Do you know his personal story? He played professional sports when he was 31 years old. That is when he stepped on to a football field. He was an accomplished educational leadership consultant in the schools and community before professional sports. Mr. West was an author, motivational speaker, and leadership consultant almost ten years before playing the game.
Did you read his personal story from the roots of poverty? He was a business man and entrepreneur before sports, so what is your irrational excuse to cover the racism in your community now!
Black men are intelligent enough to build respectable educational consulting companies and play professional sports. This is America, black men can facilitate and bid for educational contracts in our schools like white consultants! Mr. West established his company after graduating from college and attending nursing school. He has been helping children and saving lives for many years. He was homeless at one point, because he gave back, spoke for free, discounted his fees, and wave his speaking fees. He continues to help children and families in need! Who are you to insult him and his work?
Question, did you read his book, do you know the man!
• Did you attend any of his presentations?
• Did you call other schools he worked at in Montclair?
• Did you speak to the school district leaders, the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent regarding his program?
• Do you work to feed your family or do you speak for free in schools nationally because you are a former professional athlete?
Former Presidents of the United States of America are invited to speak as keynote speakers, they get paid $100,000 plus dollars and receive life long salaries for their service to the country. So, I must assume they should speak for free, give up their homes and stop living too! Racism in America!
Black men in America can't win in communities like this! You build more prisons to house minorities and decrease the educational resources to minority students and opportunities to minority owned business and complain when we succeed! What do you want, you are never satisfied.
Yes, this is a racial issue! You are casing major conflict in the communities nationwide with your senseless comments and attacks a renowned black leader in our community. He is doing an outstanding job in the schools, the community and on national television. Mr. West is delivering wisdom and hope to countless people, all ethnic groups! I am not sure how much you know about him, but he his loved and respected in communities globally!
Montclair, you have cased enough damage to the children already, if it was your child in the leadership program you would be outraged, grow up! Call the Star Ledger or step up to the district in person and voice your concerns! children are ready everything you are writing.
The more you talk the less sense you make. Until you live in a black persons body and experience the day-to-day issues that we experience then you can talk! Racism is an issue and always will be regardless of one Black President.
Interesting, sitting up on the hill in Montclair sipping on wine, but afraid to walk in our inner-cities, prisons, and disadvantaged neighborhoods to help the less fortunate and to combat crime. What courage you have? keypad pusher... Racism is real in America!
Read this again:
Wow,
It all sounds like racism in America to me. This is the typical response when a black man in America is successful and making a global difference in the community, particularly with children. Do you know all the facts regarding the program, no? The Montclair School District is consulting with Pro Athletes, an educational leadership consulting company, not and individual Mr. West as reported by the Star Ledger.
A renowned minority educational leadership consultant who is one of America's leading youth experts nationally is placed on the chopping block, because his company provides leadership support to school districts. Racism!! The white owned educational consulting companies are benefiting from billions of dollars in stimulus funds and money spent each year on educational consulting service and products in our schools. Come on, a black owned company, a minority business man is placed on notice in the public because he secured an educational contract in the Montclair School District! How frivolous is that, nothing else to report in the media! Point the finger at a honest, hard working black man who is making a difference in the schools and taking care of himself legally. Tell me, what is this really about?
How many white consulting firms and company’s financial consulting information with the Montclair School District is being reported in the Star Ledger and discussed in the news? D. West is a black man who has a proven track record of success in America and in Montclair Schools. Shame on Montclair. The truth was not reported because it would have been positive news about a black man doing amazing things with children! A dubious twist had to be added to the story to sell papers.
How many white consultants are being talked about on the national media wire who have educational contracts in the schools. I can almost guarantee you that there are thousands of white owned consulting companies and vendors that have secured over 1 -2 hundred thousand dollar contracts in schools including Montclair for their services. Racism... Racism....
The negative dialogue on the blogs are a joke! The Montclair School District is doing a great job with the stimulus money. Mr. West's consulting company Pro Athletes is facilitating curriculum based workshops for students, teachers, and parents. The district is consulting with Pro Athletes, over ten consultants, not one individual as reported by the New Jersey Star Ledger. Are you aware of the parental involvement support for parents, the leadership workshops and after school in-home support services that was not mentioned? No, wow, how juvenile is the judgment and irrational reactions! Impartial responsible adults seek all the facts and truth before insulting others and posting nasty comments on blogs.
This goes out to all the negative people who rushed to judgment and took the blind leap into ignorance and attacked the board members, the Superintendent, staff members and D. West's integrity and the value of his program. Did you speak to the Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Superintendent of Schools? No, you threw the district leaders and the Bound For Greatness Program under the bus!
There are approximately 12 - 15 elite professionals working with Pro Athletes consulting program in the district. There are internship opportunities for children, corporate field trips, after school home base support for parents and additional celebrity leadership mentoring support services. There is no room for racism and politics in our schools. Now district leaders are taken away from their daily jobs in the district to address the media, ignorant blog comments, and insensitive ego driven, power hungry want-to-be Superintendents and Board leaders.
Mr. West visits students homes and talks to families in the community. The reporter who is Caucasian didn’t write about that or the leadership initiatives, or mention one word about the guess Super Bowl Champs said during their visit or include the former NBA Emmy Award Show producer who spoke about technology at the program etc. Why, because it was positive! All of the facilitators in attendance were were black! Reports enjoy writing stories about negative issues affecting the community. A black man doing worthy things is not a money story. A negative or contentious twist and slant to the story line sells papers!
There are several Super Bowl Champions working with your district for six months, not one but several, in addition to other elite business professionals, motivational consultants, professional athletes and Mr. West, the renowned TV Personality and Found of the Bound For Greatness Celebrity Leadership Program. The reporter didn’t mention that! What a slant and twist! Therefore, the funding for this program doesn’t come close to meeting the value of the elite professionals who are participating in Pro Athletes leadership program at the three schools in Montclair! So, bully and attack the board members, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, staff members and D. West for helping minority students, special needs students, socially and economically disadvantage students and some of the athletes. The ignorant comments are reflects of unhappy people!
This is why elite educational personalities and former professional athletes refuse to work in some school districts in America! There is to much wasted energy and politics with people who don’t no what they are talking about. The children need support and immediate leadership guidance. Most importantly, to post Mr. West’s picture or your blog pages as if he has done something illegal or wrong and to question his work with the children and value as a consultant is reprehensible behavior! This is a CNN story, it’s pure racism! All of you should be a shame of yourselves, you attack a great man, his program and humanitarian efforts. This is cold and heartless! The children lose in this media and public lynching. You have spoiled the motivation of the students, teachers, administration, board members, the community and all of the members facilitating the Pro Athletes leadership program in Montclair Public Schools! What a shame! Racism....
Was it all about the election! Are adults using the election to create leverage for personal growth at the expense of the children in the district. That is sick, shame on you! When a black man moves into a position of power and delivers positive change in the community he is a target, an immediate threat.
As we all know, some reporters twist stories and omitted pertinent information to a story to create chaos and drama. The reporter for the NJ Star Ledger didn’t mention any of Mr. West’s accolades such as being honored by the President’s Office of The United States of America for his dedicated work with children, or Pro Athletes being honored on the WGN TV Network as the General Motors Minority Business of the Week, or Mr. West being a nationally acclaimed On-Air Television Personality who worked with NBC Television (10 years national on-air TV motivational consulting experience), or the fact that he is an author of several books and was voted Americas leading celebrity youth motivational consultant for 9 years straight or mentioned the point of Mr. West speaking to well-over 3 million children in schools from 1992 - 2009 or his sixteen years experience as an educational leadership consultant or his national health and wellness appearances in national magazines and on television or mention the shows he appeared on as a motivational consultant were some of the highest rate shows in daytime-talk-television, or write about him being a renowned wellness personality that was an exclusive endorsed fitness consultant for Nike, Inc. (3 years) and Fila USA (4 years), oh, did you see him on the Oprah Show. You get the point, I will stop there! How many of you with the hot air have achieved what this young man has in the community? Mr. West is recognized and respected globally, and he should be. Shame on you!
The district took a proactive approach to seek one of America’s leading educational consultants and leaders who has proven track record of success on a national and international level. For this, the district is struck down by inconsiderate, insensitive, rush to judgment, snobs in the community. Racism, racism, racism at its best!
Mr. West speaks to gang members, provides peer mediations, writes leadership strategies for our schools, and communities. He enhances students character in schools, works with parents, teachers, and saves children's lives. He puts his life on the line in the community to help keep our children and the communities safe. Do you walk in the heart of our inner-cities at night and help people, do you walk children home who are out late at night hang around on the streets because their parents are not home and/or on drugs? What a slap in the face by people who don’t have the facts. It is a sad day in Montclair and America! Racism, racism, racism.....
Those who rushed to judgment after reading the misleading information in the paper, ask yourselves, what child have I saved and are helping in my community or in America? What national youth causes am I connected to and leading? What strategies are schools and school districts using that I facilitate? Ignorance is bliss without all of the facts! Check yourselves.
I’m glad I don’t live in Montclair with such disrespectful snobs! Countless children value, admire and respect Mr. West’s advise, they look up to him as a role model and leader in the community. You don’t have to appreciate his support or value his professional service as an elite consultant in America. You will respect the children we are working with in the schools. Close your narcissistic mouths!
• Did you attend the workshops at any of the schools?
• Did you read the feedback from the students, teachers and Assistant Superintendent of Schools?
• Did you know there was proven assessment information from previous workshops hosted by Pro Athletes in the Montclair School District?
Why are we here? The Montclair Public School District took a proactive step to improve its students academic life and it is being criticized! Racism kills dreams, envy destroys communities and nations! Are you a part of the problem?
Mr. West is a powerful leader in the community who has developed a winning program in the schools that is positioning children, teachers, parents and school districts toward success. Shame on Montclair, find something worthy to do with your time! What legacy are you leaving in the community and/or with children! Shame on Montclair....
For all of the people hiding behind your computers that are killing our children’s dreams in the schools, please take your fingers off the keypads and be a part of the solutions. Stop typing and talking and do something worthy to combat the gang violence and drugs in the schools! Do something positive with your time to help parents who have lost children to senseless acts of violence. Join a winning community organization and give back to communities that have major issues in the schools. Help the at-risk, socially and economically disadvantaged, and special needs students.
Check the facts before you start running off at the month, learn how to appreciate a great opportunity for students in your school district. Racism, it smells in Montclair!
You made this a national issue because of total stupidity! How do you think the children feel who are in the leadership program? You have insulted our children and school district leaders with your insensitive attacks. This is a reflection of the pretentious people who only care about themselves.
Before I go, please call the reporter and asked her why she didn’t report a complete story and chose to slant and twist her story. Ask her why she referred to the athletes in the program as jocks of the school as opposed to student leaders. The Star Ledger and the reporter has a responsibility to report true and accurate information and they didn’t! The reporter and the Star Ledger owes the students, school district Mr. West and the community in Montclair an apology.
Please call the Star Ledger and address them appropriately if you are seeking resolve. Boycott the paper..... The problem is with the New Jersey Star Ledger, not the district leaders or D. West’s program! This is a public lynching of a national minority leader, an accomplished black man who loves children. Take care insensitive, narcissistic, egotistical bashers! Racism, wow!
Black in America, if you do good, follow the rules, stay in school, graduate from college, help others live their dreams, inspire all people, earn a respectable living, live a productive life and commit your life to the community and children like D. West people will find a way to hang you in public and/or assassinate you like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Racism in America is the story that should be addressed... Yeah, start on the streets in Montclair first! CNN will not cover this story now, because the truth has been told.
Keep your head up D. West, you are one in a million, an American hero. Please continue to inspire our children! Don’t let Montclair get you down....
God bless you!
LONGEST POST IN BARISTANET/KIDS HISTORY....
3130 Words!!!!!!
(... and No, I didn't read his books. Don't plan on it. Won't give it to my Black son.)
Again, I don't think we're disagreeing a whole bunch here. I think this is could be of value to some kids. The question is the money because I'm sure we could have found someone to "motivate" these kids for free.
Okay,
Become an educational consultant and you work for free! That is the answer. If I was the author of his book I would band you from reading it!
People like you make my stomach sick, no more wasted energy with you, you are not helping children nationally and you are not a part of national solutions to help children. If you were you would have implemented the free programs for the children in Montclair and around the country.
Brain, wow, so smart! Just because it is free doesn't mean it will reach our children. It was that simple you would be Superintendent of schools and the President of the country.
Do the district a service, write leadership strategies for the district and find free programs for the children, then tell the President and community you located 2.5 million dollars in free service and support for the district. At that point, the district can decline the stimulus funding that was spent for a great cause on the children.
While you are at it, check on the hundred thousand dollar contracts and half million dollar contracts awarded to white educational consultants in the district. Then call the district and express your discontent about how to run a school district. Some people are sell outs! Yes, your child is not in the program, so talk all day... You are a part of the problem, get a life!
I know a snob when I hear one. Good luck!
Are we missing the point her, the football team has a 2.0 GPA? Yep, busted, I am a grade racist.
I once met Mr West giving "free" advice to young men as he purchased a coffee. He is impressive. Very. And friendly. I'd love to hear him speak. I would hope that his plan includes training the boys to become mentors to other boys and/or girls.
Like it or not we already spend lots of money on kids who are not achieving as much as their classmates. As a teacher I dedicate much more time & energy per student to the 'at risk' students than I do to the 'high achievers'. And I enjoy every minute of it! I agree with a lot of what RIA has said but don't know if the race issue is at play except maybe when KK refers to Mr West's business associates as "his peeps". I bet she doesn't use that word often.