Coach's 'Welfare' Comment Sparks Racial Harassment Claim

Another day, another story of a high school coach setting a bad example. Derek Howard, a teacher and boys' basketball coach at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Mo., has been placed on paid leave after allegations that he made racially insensitive remarks to a student. According to local news reports, senior basketball player Marcus Williams Jr. was posing for a photograph in the school's hallway with students from a photography class when Howard happened by and said, "Hey, take a picture and at the bottom, label it 'future welfare recipient.' "

Williams, who filed a racial harassment complaint with the North Kansas City School District last week, told KCTV in Kansas City that Howard's comment was typical of the ones he has endured for two years. So he grabbed his smartphone and asked the coach to repeat his remarks. The resulting video captures a smug-looking Howard following Williams' request, adding that he was referring to "students that don't get good grades."

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