Ohio's Beacon School Shines With Young Jugglers

by Brenda Stevens

"All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten." So reads the prose of Robert Fulghun. At Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio, kindergarten's lessons include learning how to amaze and astound audiences with incredible feats of juggling skill and danger! 

Ms. Robin Tucker, physical education teacher at Beacon, had no intention of starting a juggling program five years ago - it just happened. Now the school's curriculum includes a phys ed a juggling unit in kindergarten through fifth grade, juggling equipment at recess, several after- school enrichment classes and a summer juggling camp. 

And these kids are good! Their routines usually include a variety of three ball tricks, the runaround with a hat, carrot and three bean balls; and juggling three and four clubs, rings, plungers and giant bean bag chairs. The group juggles blind-folded, and juggles glow-in-the-dark props with the lights out. And the performance includes quirky surprises such as spinning basketballs on the ends of spoons while eating pudding with the spoons! Performances always lead to roaring ovations and teary-eyed moms and dads. 

Groups perform often at festivals, college and high school half-time shows, nursing homes, conventions and Children's Hospital in Columbus. Their most prestigious performance was in front of 8,000 spectators at the Ohio State University women's basketball championship game in 1994. 

Here's how it all started. 

Every year, Beacon held a fourth grade basket- ball show - Harlem Globe Trotter-style. Tucker has lots of experience with basketballs. She played basketball at Ohio State and co-captained the Lady Buckeyes to two Big Ten Championships. She also coached women's college basketball for 12 years. She even played professional basketball in the 1970's, where she learned to juggle three basketballs from professional basketball performer Tonya Crevier. (Tonya Crevier's brother holds the Guinness Book record for basketball spinning). 

In 1992, a group of fifth grade boys begged to be in the fourth grade basketball show. To stop their pestering, Tucker challenged them, "If you can juggle three basketballs, I'll put you in the show." "End of that!" or so she thought. One boy came back to her before recess that very day carrying three basketballs. "OK," he said, "Now show me how!" 

Surprisingly, he not only learned to juggle, he taught his four buddies. Impressed with their ability, Tucker wondered what else they could do. Since she could only juggle basketballs, she bought Dave Finnigan's book, The Complete Juggler, and some IJA films. She also started hanging out at a downtown Columbus park where the Jest Jugglers meet. Whatever she learned, she taught her kids. She continued to challenge them, and they continued to exceed her expectations. 

At first she started the juggling unit in phys ed class 2 with the third grade. She bought juggling props and stored them in her basement. Soon kindergartners came to school juggling, having learned from their ' older siblings. She was amazed. Now the school's storage closet holds 42 little jester outfits, a tangle of bean balls, plungers, diabolos, rubber chickens and unicycles. The juggling unit now starts in kindergarten, and all grades can participate in the after-school program. 

To keep the kids motivated Tucker challenges them with specific attainable goals and a chance to perform in shows. Four years ago she had a "three clubs for 30 throws rule" before students could perform. Now her rule is: "Whatever you can do, you can do in the show." 

Beacon parent Cheryl Salyers says Robin's "you-can-do-it" attitude is a big motivator for her three juggling sons. Second grader Chris Salyers learned from his older brothers, and Chris could juggle four bean balls at age four. 

Chris' eighth grade brother, Adam, was the first Salyers sibling to juggle, learning in phys ed in fourth grade. Now that he's out of elementary school he doesn't practice his juggling as much, but getting ready for a show always motivates him. He liked appearing in a show for 1,000 people at a state Problem Solvers convention. He and his middle school friends have performed for pep rallies, and he and his brothers have made up their own routine for a church talent show. 

Sixth grader Pat Salyers stays motivated by learning new skills. He learned to ride a unicycle in the Beacon Jugglers and likes to juggle glow-in-the dark props in pitch darkness. The boys parents say juggling definitely helps their self esteem. Both Mr. and Mrs. Salyers appreciate the personal time Tucker gives to the kids, and the fact that she lets students take equipment home to practice for indefinite amounts of time.. 

School Principal Diane Hammons claims juggling has brought about positive changes at her school. She was absolutely amazed at the first Beacon Juggler show. She saw how the students' self image was enhanced. They had tackled the difficult task of juggling and learned it, and this incentive to learn carried over into the academics. She said, "Reading looks like it just happens, but it's hard work. The same with juggling. It looks easy, but it's not." 

In addition to academic improvement, school morale was raised. All of Beacon takes pride in its jugglers. 

Recently the Beacon Jugglers put on a show for the school system superintendent and school board. The board was visibly enjoying the show, when in came kids on five-foot unicycles, ducking their heads to get in the door! Astonished, the superintendent turned and looked at Principal Hammons. "I just held my breath and smiled," she said. "Yes," I was saying, "we have unicycles at in Beacon." 

For Robin Tucker, every time a child learns to juggle or learns a new trick is a thrill. "Their faces light up with a, 'Wow! I did it!'" She's especially proud of the kids with learning and behavior disabilities who don't have much classroom success but can excite an audience with a skill that most adults can't do. "There's a sense they get that says, 'If I can juggle, I can do anything,'" she said. "I like looking out here at the kids knowing I made a difference."