Students Cry a Bit, Learn Life Lessons : Heroes: Young people find Johnson’s announcement hard to believe at first. Their somber talk turns to mortality and sexual responsibility.

Less than a mile from the Los Angeles Lakers’ home court at the Forum, Inglewood High School teacher Eleanor Owen took time out from her lesson on “Wuthering Heights” Friday morning to discuss a drama that hit closer to home.

“What I want to talk about now hasn’t been written in literature yet,” she told the classroom of seniors. “There isn’t a novel that we know of yet--but some day you’ll read about it.”

She then raised the topic of Magic Johnson and let the class take it from there.

“It made me cry a little--just a little,” said Carlos Delgado, referring to the moment he heard reports Thursday that the Lakers’ star player had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. “It’s sad. He fought all the way to get where he is and now he has to fight for his life. You have to be a real man to say in front of everybody, ‘I have the HIV virus.’ ”

“It could be five people sitting in this class. All of you better start thinking,” said Andrea Myers, a student in Owen’s class. “There is a clinic across the street that gives away condoms and some of you ought to get over there real soon.”

Similar discussions and lectures took place in classrooms, school hallways and playgrounds throughout Southern California Friday as youngsters came to grips with the news that the virus associated with AIDS has stricken a basketball legend and schoolyard hero.

The somber talks--sometimes among youngsters too young to drive but old enough to know the basic facts about the deadly disease--often turned to mortality, condoms and sexual responsibility.

Many students said they did not believe the news when they first heard it. Many said the news would change their everyday lives. And all of them said they now understand that if the disease can strike a near mythic figure like Johnson, it can strike anyone.

“I think this is going to be a landmark in AIDS,” said Sam Miller, 11, a student at Carpenter Elementary School in Studio City. “Nobody ever thinks it can happen to them, but if it could happen to someone who is as well-loved as Magic Johnson it could happen to anyone. I don’t think the government can ignore this any longer.”

Miller was among many students and teachers Friday who said Johnson was on their minds all day Friday. They talked about his career, his game-winning shots, his smile, his charisma and their love for him. But they also talked about AIDS, death and their hope for a miracle.

“We had a current event (assignment) to do for homework last night and almost everybody did it about Magic,” said sixth-grader Jesus Carreon. “I feel sorry about him. He was a great player. I’m still his fan, even though he doesn’t play.”

“I felt like crying,” said his friend, Manuel Roque. “A lot of people were crying. . . . I read a book about him and how he became famous.”

Ten-year-old Jason Newman said he has a poster of Johnson in his bedroom, the living room and the kitchen of his house. “It was kind of crazy,” Jason said, remembering his initial reaction. “It’s just shocking. I hope they can come up with a cure quick. We need a miracle real fast.”

The discussion brought tears to third-grade teacher Diane Mitcham.

“I thought I was over it . . .,” she said, her eyes brimming. “Children bring such innocence and honesty when they discuss their pain, it made it more painful.”

At Suzanne Middle School in Walnut, Johnson’s announcement changed perceptions of the disease among some eighth-graders.

“You thought gays just had it,” said Anh Le, 13.

“More people are getting scared,” said Christina Tafesh, 13. “You never thought it would happen to one of the Lakers.”

Johnson is not an abstract sports star at Inglewood High. He has led anti-drug rallies on campus and the Lakers occasionally practice in the school gym.

“He knows a lot of the kids personally here,” said Principal Kenneth Crowe. “He eats around the street at the Belly-Dely. Everyone feels that he’s part of what goes on in this community.”

Owen’s students said it made them think in a completely new way about casual, unprotected sex.

“This really woke me up,” said Rondalyu France, a member of Owen’s class. “I will never have unprotected sex again. It can happen to anyone, including me.”

Sherrice King, another student, said she won’t depend on any boyfriend to protect her from AIDS. “I think young ladies can’t depend on a boy,” she said. “They have to depend on themselves. You can’t be afraid to go to the store or go to the clinic for condoms.”

Owen said she has no regrets in putting off the discussion of Emily Bronte’s novel until next week.

“This uses an opportunity and makes the most of it,” she said. “We can’t cure Magic but we can use this opportunity. It has changed some of their lives and some of their attitudes.”

And what happened to Magic isn’t all that far removed from great literature, she said.

“A hero,” she said, “is someone who sacrifices for the good of the whole.”

Some students said they rarely discuss AIDS and safe sex practices outside of class, except in a joking fashion.

“Alone, you think about it,” said 13-year-old Keith Shigetomi from Suzanne Middle School. “But you joke about it when talking to your friends,” added Jerry Cheng, 14.

One of the most often asked questions among youngsters was about how Johnson acquired the virus.

“Maybe he got it from another athlete,” speculated Jerry.

“Maybe he had sex a long time ago with another lady and it’s just now showing up,” said Keith, who first studied AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in fifth-grade.

At Carpenter, many of the students said they respected Magic’s openness.

“I’m glad that he was very straightforward,” Sam said. “You have to admire him for that.”

“He’s trying to go and help people to make sure that that doesn’t happen to them,” 11-year-old Gabrielle Valentin added.

The students now worry about their hero’s well-being.

“A lot of little kids with AIDS look to him for comfort,” Jerry said. “Now, who’s going to comfort him?”

Times staff writers Jocelyn Stewart, Rose Kim, Sherry Joe, Collin Nash and Jonathan Gaw contributed to this story.