Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
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Sunday, September 3, 2006
Ron Harper’s new gym
(NBA great Ron Harper holds his Kiser High School jersey at a ceremony Friday to rename the school’s gym for him.)
If you didn’t read Saturday’s Tom Archdeacon column about the ceremony to rename Kiser Elementary School’s gym for NBA star Ron Harper, do yourself a favor and click the link.
I just thought it was a real nice story. Tom made it clear Harper was truly humbled by the gesture and I enjoyed Harper’s comments to the kids about believing in their dreams and listening to adults who can show you the way to reach your goals. Plus, Harper’s mother was repeatedly praised for her hard work raising six children working multiple jobs. All around it just sounded like a very nice event.
Harper, who played with Michael Jordan and won six NBA titles with the Bulls and Lakers, went to Kiser when it was still a high school. It just reopened this year in a sparkling new building and the principal, Sandra Kidd, is the mother of one of Harper’s childhood friends. Tom alludes to (but doesn’t really explain) a “chasm from years past between Harper and his hometown” that apparently has kept Harper from being more involved in Dayton. I hope this is a step toward resolving that.
I think the school district probably deserves some credit here, too. This is the kind of event that in the past would have been dreamed up by school officials but probably not pulled off with such effectiveness.
(Image credit: Jim Witmer, DDN)
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