Teachers drilled in school spirit

Hillsborough teachers rally before thousands of students arrive Wednesday.

By JOE HUMPHREY

Revised September 5, 2000

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 5, 2000

TAMPA -- With the crash of a cymbal, confetti rained on 13,000 Hillsborough County teachers gathered for a pep rally Friday morning.

Before the red and white paper settled, many of the teachers had bolted from the Ice Palace, seemingly faster than their students at the end of a long day.

It wasn't that they didn't enjoy the camaraderie or a motivational speaker's message. But there were other things on their minds, most notably the work yet to be done before thousands of students return Wednesday.

If not at the four-hour assembly, "I'd be in my classroom getting ready," said King High School math teacher Richard Bezdecny. Teaching is a second career for the former senior field engineer, who carpooled to the arena with other teachers and was heading back to school for a few hours of work.

Many schools bused teachers to the rally and encouraged them to wear school shirts. Patches of red- or yellow-clad teachers were particularly noticeable at the event. They cheered as Dr. Ben Carson talked about overcoming poverty to become a successful neurosurgeon and author, addressing peer pressure and other issues young people face.

"I think it was great and inspirational," said Sickles High School guidance counselor Vicky Perkins, who bought a few of Carson's books on her way out of the arena.

But not everyone was enthusiastic about the event, which cost the school district more than $40,000. $30,000 came from private donations. Carson's $12,500 speaker's fee, about half of what he normally charges, came from federal grant money earmarked for appearances.

"It's a gargantuan waste of time and money," said George Schultz, a math teacher at Hillsborough High School. "I have a lot better things to do."

Some other teachers' actions echoed Schultz's sentiments. Some read magazines or books. Two teachers on the lower concourse discussed the Orlando Magic's recent acquisitions.

School Superintendent Earl Lennard later said that teachers were receptive and excited about the event.

Lennard acknowledged some teachers came to the rally less than pleased with having to listen through four hours of speeches.

Until they heard Carson's message. "It creates an atmosphere that charges our teachers up. The message is we can't have excuses, we need to have results," said Lennard. "It challenges our teachers."

"If only one child was saved by what Dr. Carson said today, it was money well spent," said Mark Hart, a school division spokesman.

Carson also addressed 1,500 students hand-picked by their principals. In an afternoon meeting, the doctor talked about rising from a world full of "rats, roaches and sirens," where drug dealers were his favorite people in the neighborhood.

"They always dressed fancy, drove fancy cars and brought the children candy," he said, but they often died young.

He also told students to take responsibility for their actions and not succumb to peer pressure, which he characterizes as "People who Encourage Errors, Rudeness and Stupidity."

Contact Joe Humphrey at 226-3403 or humphrey@sptimes.com

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