LeBron James Opens First 'I Promise' School

[Scifidiner]

Or grouching about kneeling and doing absolutely nothing.

Oh I did something, I quit watching overpaid athletes making hollow offensive gestures...and apparently I'm not the only one.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I think it's great. But I'll bet you in two years when all those kids are a year behind instead of two or three all we'll hear is LEBRON'S SCHOOL GETS FAILING GRADE!!! KIDS ARE A YEAR BEHIND!!!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Oh I did something, I quit watching overpaid athletes making hollow offensive gestures...and apparently I'm not the only one.

In other words you did absolutely positively nothing to help.

 

[Scifidiner]

Yeah cause all that kneeling has really helped "solve the problem". Exactly how does insulting law enforcement and veterans help? Oh right we're now "aware" of the problem.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I think it's great. I hope it's successful .
It's sad people can't just be positive and nice about it. It's a good thing. Don't try to take away from it by bringing up things other people do, what you think he should do, why he doesn't do enough, kneeling or whatever. It's petty and not a good look.

 

[Imzadi]

There is no "one pill" that society can take to fix all our problems. Many good people -- athletes, entertainers, teachers, cops, clergy, taxi drivers, bartenders -- have to do thousands of good deeds to make a difference. Some do; most don't.

Everything counts, and everyone who is blessed (or cursed) with fame and fortune who doesn't GIVE BACK really needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

It wasn't always like that. The many self-made millionaires and the ones who came from old money: the Rockefellers, the Gettys, the Astors, the Vanderbuilts, etc, had the values of giving back to their communities and the U.S. at large, with the monies they have. (These are only the NYC families I know about.) Maybe it was because they had relatives go through the Great Depression? Or they realized how fortunate that they were able to thrive while others literally starved? They were taught to be responsible for what they've gotten and to be of service. The Rockefellers were responsible for quietly & secretly securing much of the land that would later become Yellowstone National Park. They saved it from greedy land developers who would have ruined what we have today. Later, one of the Rockefellers donated the island of St John, to be always kept a wildlife preserve, And they are still doing other charitable stuff. The other 3 families I named donated to create museums as well as having created other foundations.

I remember reading a couple decades ago, someone bashing Bill Gates, with his newly made billions, for not being like them. Some years later, he and his wife finally did create the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. They are now working with Warren Buffett, who donated a few billion to their foundation, as he believes they will do good with it.

George Clooney & Brad Pitt (along with Angelina,) have donated some millions of dollars to charitable causes. Yet, they are always known more for their movies or who they are dating/marrying.

Even the British Royal family has developed foundations, trusts, or does their part to bring attention & awareness to many charitable causes, particularly Queen Elizabeth's children, along with William & Harry due to values passed down from Diana. Harry created the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen. He is dedicated to helping them as he served in the British military and saw firsthand, wounded soldiers coming back from combat. Yet, in the U.S, I think the majority of people think the Royal family just sits around eating bon-bons. What's funny is that the negative, acidic people, who, I suspect, do the least or nothing to help raise up their own community or those directly around them, are the most disparaging. I guess when one does nothing good themselves, they assume others aren't doing anything good either. People are outward reflections of people's inner world. So they certainly aren't looking to see what good others are doing.

Also, doing good just doesn't have as much traction in the news or social media as the latest scandal or fluff. Those stories get buried under the sensational fluff of the day. In how many days will what LeBron is doing get buried and forgotten (except by those directly affected at his school?)

Let's hope LeBron remembers part of the famous quote on the wall of a children's home in Calcutta, India, of the late Mother Teresa, and keeps going:

"The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway."

Maybe he can inspire this generation's famous & wealthy celebrities & athletes to join in the longer he goes. Then he becomes a living example of how to BE and not just the latest tweet of the day.

 

[Imzadi]

When I said follow his lead, I was referring to opening schools. QUALITY Education is the great equalizer. A quality education can have generational impact.

The Blue Man Group, (creators of a famous off-Broadway show which later expanded to L.A.. Las Vegas & I think in London and few other places,) have created their own alternative school here in NYC:

https://www.blueschool.org/founderletter/

 

[NHdisneylover]

I completely disagree. While I admire Lebron for this, I don't believe millionaires should have to open schools for children to get a quality education. If we have to cross our fingers that celebrities spend their money on educating US children, we've failed.

But we have already largely failed on this front. There is a HUGE disparity in the quality of public education in the US---and it is very largely along economic lines---kids whose families are at the low end of the economic ladder are far less likely to receive a good education in their local public schools than their financially better off peers.

I tend to agree with the PP---yes MANY things help and no one has to do the same as LeBron, but the reason opening a school has been my top pie in the sky dream is becuase I think it would do the most long term good for the least cost investment and tht if we really want to close the gap between the haves and have nots (which then goes on to affect nearly everything) we have to start with making sure all kids receive good starts (education, nutriotion, etc)
If I were crazy rich and well connected I would open something similar in Detroit.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

But we have already largely failed on this front. There is a HUGE disparity in the quality of public education in the US---and it is very largely along economic lines---kids whose families are at the low end of the economic ladder are far less likely to receive a good education in their local public schools than their financially better off peers.

I tend to agree with the PP---yes MANY things help and no one has to do the same as LeBron, but the reason opening a school has been my top pie in the sky dream is becuase I think it would do the most long term good for the least cost investment and tht if we really want to close the gap between the haves and have nots (which them goes on to affect nearly everything) we have to start with making sure all kids receive good starts (education, nutriotion, etc)
If I were crazy rich and well connected I would open something similar in Detroit.

IMO I think at the public education (non-college) front a lot has to do with just how the schools are funded. You don't have to be very well off to reap the benefits of being in a good school district.

For example over 51% of my property tax from my home goes into our assigned school district. The higher the homes are valued the more money the school gets and that's just for my school district. That doesn't mean that every student is living in a very nice house. The high school assigned to my area has houses valued at upwards of $1million and also valued at $200Ks (and less).

Now that isn't the case everywhere for sure. And in my area monies that come from property tax is only part of the problem. In my suburbia area that's the crux of our public education funding issue that has been going on for years. In my area millions of dollars from state aid has been shifted from our area big school districts to redistribute to others parts of the state as our state's Supreme Court has ruled over and over that the funding algorithm is unconstitutional as aid spent per student is not equal. They tried changing the formula but that itself was only a minor fix and was eventually ruled unconstitutional as well.

Certain pockets I totally see that more money a person makes derives the difference but IMO it's much more complex of an issue. I admire what he is doing but in terms of actually correcting/fixing opportunities continual funding of specified school districts and schools within those districts is probably the larger issue. Even with this school opening he has said they had to cap the numbers admitted in order to "fit under one roof. We did a random selection of all students who met that criteria" And again I think what he's doing is great however what about those students who didn't get a random selection. For me donating monies, if possible, would be the way I'd go since it can afford resources used to help those students (like basic things of a indoor bathroom which not every school has, books, computers, teacher's aid, tutors, technology in general, etc) but unfortunately that presents an issue due to corruptness that occurs throughout the nation in certain school districts (not saying his specific one he's talking about just speaking in generalities).

 

[clutter]

Oh I did something, I quit watching overpaid athletes making hollow offensive gestures...and apparently I'm not the only one.

.

 

[missbrooke06]

But we have already largely failed on this front. There is a HUGE disparity in the quality of public education in the US---and it is very largely along economic lines---kids whose families are at the low end of the economic ladder are far less likely to receive a good education in their local public schools than their financially better off peers.

I tend to agree with the PP---yes MANY things help and no one has to do the same as LeBron, but the reason opening a school has been my top pie in the sky dream is becuase I think it would do the most long term good for the least cost investment and tht if we really want to close the gap between the haves and have nots (which them goes on to affect nearly everything) we have to start with making sure all kids receive good starts (education, nutriotion, etc)
If I were crazy rich and well connected I would open something similar in Detroit.

It's an amazing dream and VERY worthwhile. Lebron's doing something awesome (and I love that he's not doing it as a charter) but I just wish he didn't have to.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I really could not care any less...
He is all about the PR.
In the end, yes, he is the one who is, what somebody called 'polarizing'.. and I call 'divisive'.

Just a way to further his agenda.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I really could not care any less...
He is all about the PR.
In the end, yes, he is the one who is, what somebody called 'polarizing'.. and I call 'divisive'.

Just a way to further his agenda.

What a great agenda to further, helping educate at risk kids. It's seriously messed up that anyone would consider that polarizing, divisive or in any way negative.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I really could not care any less...
He is all about the PR.
In the end, yes, he is the one who is, what somebody called 'polarizing'.. and I call 'divisive'.

Just a way to further his agenda.

What sort of nefarious agenda are you referring to? I mean, kids are going to get a good education thanks to this so called PR move---this is bad and polarizing why? How?

 

[NHdisneylover]

What a great agenda to further, helping educate at risk kids. It's seriously messed up that anyone would consider that polarizing, divisive or in any way negative.

you said it better than I did.
Yes, seriously messed up.

 

[Missy1961]

I really could not care any less...
He is all about the PR.
In the end, yes, he is the one who is, what somebody called 'polarizing'.. and I call 'divisive'.

Just a way to further his agenda.

You really think he needs this PR? He doesn't have to do anything at all.

And you think he has an agenda? What would that be exactly?

 

[Missy1961]

What a great agenda to further, helping educate at risk kids. It's seriously messed up that anyone would consider that polarizing, divisive or in any way negative.

Thanks - this is perfect.

 

[marlynnp]

found the racist!

 

[Dancind]

Very happy Akron has LeBron, and other cities have their own angels. Too bad the money I contribute every year through taxes is not being used for positive purposes like this. I usually make under $80k a year but last year we emptied an IRA to buy a second house in the city we want to move to. Dumb move, the tax bill was huge. Could have started a school with it, but you know.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I really could not care any less...
He is all about the PR.
In the end, yes, he is the one who is, what somebody called 'polarizing'.. and I call 'divisive'.

Just a way to further his agenda.

How dare he step up and give a bunch of disadvantaged kids a real shot at obtaining the American dream.

It takes a special kind of person to find fault with a person who puts up his/her own money to make a difference in a child's life.

Responses like this make be think that there are some amongst us who do not believe ALL CHILDREN deserve a QUALITY EDUCATION.

Some people are perfectly fine with us having HAVES and HAVES NOT public school systems.