PORT RICHEY
Cotee River Elementary students filled the school's playground Tuesday, waving flags and singing patriotic songs as veterans from all five military branches took seats of honor in the front.
Student council president Jada Jackson, wearing red, white and blue, prepared to introduce the guests attending the Veterans Day salute. She said it was fitting to honor the people who have defended the nation.
"I've read books like the Hunger Games and stuff," the fifth-grader said. Veterans "saved us from those horrible things. We should celebrate them for doing that stuff. They are heroes."
The proper way to recognize those who served came into stark relief this fall, as the Pasco school district altered its long-standing tradition of closing Nov. 11.
In places like Pinellas County, that's been the norm for years. In Pasco, as in Hillsborough County, the holiday has been set aside, and proposals to treat it differently have met resistance.
Superintendent Kurt Browning pressed the case. He said the change was worth it.
"I still contend, if we had a day off these kids would have been sleeping in, going to the mall, playing video games," Browning said. "None of them would have ended up going to a Veterans Day ceremony."
In school, students were exposed to recognitions, history lessons and other activities aimed at honoring the military. The district live-streamed an event from the Wesley Chapel High School performing arts center, and several individual schools had their own celebrations.
"We reached so many more kids this year with Veterans Day than we have ever reached," Browning said.
As a related benefit, the School Board was able to give students and employees a full week vacation at Thanksgiving.
Much of the response to the change was positive.
"It's a great opportunity, paying respect to my country and the veterans who served us," said Edwin Reyes, cadet petty officer second class in Ridgewood High School's JROTC program.
"Every school should do this," added cadet seaman recruit Connor Willey, who participated in the color guard at Cotee River.
Children watching the presentations agreed.
"I paid attention," said fifth-grader Carter Hoskins. "We should respect our veterans even more on Veterans Day. I would rather be at school today."
Kindergarten teacher Tina St. Pierre had mixed feelings. On the one hand, she said, it would have been nice to have time off to show respect in other ways.
"When it comes to the kids, I think they're better off here," she said. "They need to know there are places in this world that are not like America, and we have people out there protecting us."
Jehu Ross, an Avionics Electrical Technician in the Coast Guard, had similar views.
But Ross, whose three children attend Cotee River, where his wife also works, said he wasn't a fan of the added school day. He is away from home 20 weeks a year, Ross said, and he would have liked to have the time with his kids, doing things such as Legoland on a day when veterans get special treatment.
"But I like the fact that they're doing this," Ross said of the school's event. "It makes up for the fact that they're not getting the day off."
His kindergarten son, Hunter, said he was glad his school had its celebration.
"It's for the soldiers. They protect us," the 5-year-old said. "And I get to see my dad."
But some students found their assembly simply too boring for words. Among the positive emails that Browning received were some critical ones.
One activist urged the superintendent to reconsider.
"Please honor our veterans by closing school and giving our veterans equal recognition as you do for all other federal holidays," Debbie McDowell of North Port wrote.
That's not scheduled to happen soon. The School Board already has approved next year's academic calendar, with students attending on Veterans Day.
"It's going to be bigger and better," Browning said. "These kids don't even know what veterans are, and they're not going to know if we just turn them loose and don't tell them in school."
Contact Jeffrey S. Solochek at jsolochek@tampabay.com or (813) 909-4614. Follow @jeffsolochek.