RECOGNIZING HARD WORK

A first-hour English class might not be enough incentive to get some senior high school students roused from their beds every weekday morning, but maybe that's because Bill Springer isn't teaching them.

Attendance is nearly 100 percent every day in Springer's senior English class. "It's so much fun that you don't want to miss it," said Lashonda Dugger, a student at Cape Central High School.

Dugger and 13 other students enrolled in Springer's class attended a special recognition breakfast Thursday in honor of their hard work and dedication. Parents, principal Randie Fidler and Dr. Dan Steska, district superintendent, also attended.

Having a class that is always ready to work and looks forward to starting the day makes his job easy, Springer said.

In a statement read by Fidler, Springer wrote that the class isn't typical. "I know that I will find a group who willingly completes any task that I assign, has something interesting to say" or has planned a practical joke. Springer also wrote that he has watched the class bond and support one another during the year.

"This is what makes teaching fun," he said. "You never know what's going to happen when you walk in the door."

But students know that isn't true: When they walk into Springer's class they expect to laugh and learn.

Springer mixes equal amounts of practical lessons on life with a dry, witty humor. He teases the students about not getting respect -- and not getting any from them.

But he also tells them how proud he is that they are going to graduate next month. "And if you don't I'm going to kick your behind right across the stage," he said and the group laughs.

While they can joke about graduation, some of the students needed extra encouragement to get this far. One senior has only spent three years in the United States and didn't speak or write English when he arrived. Another had some problems that required him to repeat a semester of school.

Gaylon Brevard said she was delighted to have been invited to the recognition breakfast.

"I'm proud of him," she said of her son, Jamell Austin, who is enrolled in Springer's class. "If nothing else I'm just proud he made it through school."

Springer also teaches history courses and had some of his seniors in that class last year, so he's already built a rapport with them.

Since it is a senior class, some students only needed an extra half-credit but opted to stay in the class for the entire year.

"That speaks volumes about the class and Mr. Springer," said Darlene Dunning, whose daughter, Jennifer, was one of those students.

And despite an upcoming graduation, Jennifer is already making plans to come back and visit Springer.

"I might just keep them all," Springer said.