CHICAGO — Jeff Bernstein, the athletic director at Foreman High School — the school hit hardest by Chicago Public Schools budget cuts — found a fun way to fire up the students at a recent pep rally.
Donning a Foreman wrestling singlet and sunglasses, Bernstein ran wildly, jumped on staircase railings and broke into a dance routine before speaking to students, who were prepping for a home football game against Lake View High School.
"I acted like a professional wrestler going back and forth trying to get the crowd excited for our game," said Bernstein, of Old Town. "Our culture has gone down a bit due to budget cuts, so why not do something a little fun to show that we still care about the kids and still care for them?"
Foreman will lose $1,322,693 from its budget, the most of any school, according to CPS. The school is 144 students below its projected number.
Bernstein, 30, is a self-described "class clown" from his days at Wheeling High School and Eastern Illinois University. He had been more serious at Foreman — where he also teaches physical education and driver's education while serving as an assistant football and softball coach — until Friday's pep rally. He had the stunt planned a few days beforehand and told no one other than the school's principal, Daniel Zimmerman.
"The students couldn't believe I did something like that," Bernstein said.
Justin Breen says student morale was low in the midst of budget cuts:
For the basketball season, Bernstein hopes to introduce the Hornet Nation Club, similar to the "Cameron Crazies" student cheering section at Duke. He also said Foreman students shouldn't be surprised if he pulls off another creative performance at a rally.
"Overall, I was just having fun. Life isn't always serious. You have to have fun sometimes," he said.
Foreman won the football game, 38-12, to improve to 4-3.
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