NOTEBOOK : Protest Follows Decision to Replace Toiler Coaches

Manual Arts Principal Wendell Greer’s decision to replace varsity football co-head coaches Rodney Spencer and Charles Hollis has angered some players, teachers and parents.

Last month, Greer, who took over the position at the beginning of the 1994-95 school year, announced that he was going to re-evaluate Manual Arts’ sports program and make changes where needed.

“The new principal said he was going to demote us, but he didn’t give a criteria (for) his decision,” said Spencer, who has led Manual Arts to the playoffs in eight of his 10 years as coach, including an 8-5 record and an appearance in the City Section 3-A Division semifinals last season. “Everyone should be subjected to due process.”

Spencer has taught physical education at Manual Arts for 15 years and will remain in that capacity. However, he is not likely to continue to coach if he is not the head man.

“Right now I still want to coach,” Spencer said. “But if he can’t bring in anyone better than me, then I can’t be an assistant coach.”

Greer could not be reached for comment.

“I don’t think what Greer is doing is right,” said Hollis, who also teaches physical education. “The treatment just isn’t fair.”

Spencer’s main concern is the manner in which Greer made his decision.

“He should have come to us and told us what he wanted,” Spencer said. “We have been in this community a long time for someone to come up to us and say ‘I want a change’ for no apparent reason.”

Spencer is not the only one displeased with Greer’s actions.

“The teachers are not happy about the principal’s decision to replace the football coaches,” said Joshua Pechthalt, a history teacher at Manual Arts for 11 years. “Greer has the contractual right to do what he is doing but we don’t feel it’s the right decision.”

Pechthalt is also one of three union representatives of the United Teachers Los Angeles at Manual Arts. He was among an estimated about 200 teachers, students and parents who demonstrated in front of the school Feb. 17.

“There have been several acts of civil disobedience by football players expressing their solidarity with the football coaches,” Pechthalt said. “Kids have skipped their homeroom classes and gathered in the hallways to show their support.”

But Pechthalt, who has talked with Greer, is certain that Greer is adamant.

“The principal is determined to bring in his own man,” Pechthalt said. “He intends to bring in the new coach and eventually make him athletic director. (The teachers) feel like this guy is just rewarding his friends at the expense of Spencer and Hollis. A lot of the teachers don’t feel like their jobs are safe if he can just come in and do this.”

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Michael Granville of Bell Gardens High won the 800 meters in 1 minute, 50.80 seconds in the Simplot Games indoor track meet in Pocatello, Ida, Feb. 19 to break a 31-year-old national record.

The time shattered the previous indoor junior national record of 1:53.2 set by Larry Kelly of Illinois in 1964 and was the third-fastest high school time ever. Granville also holds the freshman and sophomore indoor records at 800 meters.

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Manual Arts High basketball player Darwin Carter was released from Inglewood Centinela Hospital Feb. 17 after being admitted with chest pains.

Carter, a senior, was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure during the fourth quarter of the Toilers’ City 4-A playoff game against Washington.

“Darwin had been suffering from the flu for a while, and the chest congestion made it difficult for him to breathe,” Manual Arts Coach Randolph Simpson said. “He started to hyperventilate when he came to the bench and so we sent him to get checked out.”

Initially Carter was taken out of the game after he strained his right calf muscle and the tendon in his right knee while trying to block a shot. Simpson said he talked to Dr. Anthony Fennison, who said he didn’t think surgery would be required. “Thank goodness it was only a partial tear,” Simpson said.

Carter, who played only the first three quarters, scored 20 points but Manual Arts lost the game, 88-71.