Canadian School Bans Word "Gun"

[jmaass]

http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?i...C-FAB8B263AADD}

The word gun was banned from spelling tests in one school only and not across the Upper Canada District School Board, board officials said Tuesday.

Terry Simzer, the Brockville-based board's public relations officer, said the word was removed from Grade 1 spelling lists at Lombardy Public School where a complaint originated from a parent, not from all schools as had been widely reported.

"The (complainant) and the teacher had an amicable meeting and it was agreed to remove the word from the spelling list,'' Simzer said Tuesday.

"It's up to the principals at other schools to decide whether that word is in use or not.''

Simzer said earlier news reports of the word's removal from all schools across the board had the board scrambling to clarify its position on the matter.

The whole thing started when Chloe Sousa, 7, brought home from Lombardy Public School a list of 10 words to learn. Each Friday her class is tested on these words. By last week, the class had worked its way through the alphabet to the letter G.

Amanda and Mark Sousa, who consider themselves to be pacifists and who are raising their two young children with this governing belief, were shocked when Amanda's spelling list last week included the word Gun.

"I realize people hunt in this area, but I still don't think that warrants the teaching of this word to my daughter or any other child," said Mrs. Sousa.

The Sousas relocated to tiny Lombardy, about an hour west of  Ottawa near Smiths Falls, from Kingston, where Mr. Sousa still works, to be closer to family.

Mrs. Sousa wrote a letter to her daughter's teacher describing her views on the word gun, her unease with any child learning to spell the word, a few alternatives, and the wish to speak to the teacher about its inclusion on the list.

"The word gun is synonymous with death. I'm racking my brain  trying to figure out why a seven-year-old would need to learn this word," said Mrs. Sousa, who admits she was hesitant to bring her views forward for fear of backlash from the school toward her daughter, and because some may view her problem with the word gun as another political correctness issue gone too far.

"For a split second I considered whether or not I should raise this  issue, but I knew I had to stand up for what I believe in. This was not right," she said.

"I don't think this is an issue of political correctness. It's an issue of protecting your child from violence. Guns are violent. End of story," said Mrs. Sousa.

The Sousas did not hear from the teacher. Then Chloe was sent home later in the week, again with her list, which now came complete with pictures beside each word.

"It wasn't a water gun or a toy gun, it was a pistol," said Mr. Sousa.

"I was horrified that not only were we ignored, but now my daughter  is carrying around a picture of a gun," he said.

Mrs. Sousa then decided it was time to call the school to speak to the principal.

Not long after she placed the telephone call yesterday, the teacher returned her call and apologized for the word being part of the test, as did Terry Simzer, a public relations specialist for the school board  in which the Lombardy Public school belongs.

Mr. Simzer explained that the word gun had been in the curriculum for a number of years, but as of yesterday, gun has been removed  from the spelling test because of the Sousas' complaint.

"I can't say how many years it's been used, but a number of years, yes," said Mr. Simzer, and he defended the word as being a good phonetic word and short vowel word that is easy for young readers to learn.

"We do appreciate the sensitivity around the word, especially in these times, and have taken the word from the list because of this parent's complaint," he said.

"But children do hear this word every day on the news, particularly about blank registration -- I don't want to say the word so I don't offend anybody," added Mr. Simzer.

"We are quite happy that the whole matter has been resolved and the word will no longer be included in our curriculum."

Although the Sousas remain disappointed the word was ever included in a Grade 1 spelling test, the family is happy with the outcome.

"Even after all of the obstacles I'm happy with the conclusion," said Mrs. Sousa.

"I accomplished what I set out to do and that was to have this word removed from my daughter's spelling list."

[jhgtyre]

The Thought Police strike again.  Ooops, I used the word strike!  I hope they don't take that the wrong way.  Oh, wait, I'm in Arizona so I suppose they can just BITE ME!

What really sickens me is that our government is only a little behind them in idiocy.

-ld

(Edited by jhgtyre at 10:49 am on Feb. 14, 2003)

[Jeffro]

    Just when you think the world can't get any crazier!!

Is it ME or is it THEM??

                                       Jeff

                           

[BrianH]

Just the other day our local paper had a cover story on a firearms (GUN) training academy just a few minutes south of me....a line of guys doing stronghand drills....it was great, right there on the front page....

MEN WITH GUNS----GUNS----GUNS------I love it....some of us are still free....(kinda)....

[EricW]

I can hardly wait to move to Canada so that I may whine my way into the creation of a new hyper-conservative modality of Newspeak, such that I am never again offended by the vulgarities of daily parlance.

Among my first candidates for "Unwords":

Gay

Hip - to inlcude all variations (i.e. Hippie, Hipster...)

Liberal - in any context, including such use as "liberally sprinkled salt..."

Hate - Hating is evil, so you can't "hate" anything.  You're only allowed "to not like something as much as..."

Pot - even in the context of "pots and pans..."  In my world, there will only be pans and kettles...

All persons named Mary and/or Jane will be required to change their names.

In my world, anthing I don't like or understand will be declared to not exist.  I shall create a world that reverts back to the wisdom of Stalinism.  Politically objectionable individuals and philosophies will simply be simply edited and airbrushed out of existence.  Aaahhhh, and let us not forget to send the Infidels to the Gulags.  

After all, since the new politcs are clearly perfect, ignorance is a far better solution than knowledge and debate.

[ErikW]

Time to dust off the C-word. Put it on the test with that lady's picture.

[muser]

The woman is also reported to have banned her husband from using a nail gun or a caulking gun on their home repairs, she refuses to use a glue gun for her craft projects, she won't let her kids watch the movie Top Gun or listen to Guns and Roses, and she won't let her kids participate in track and field at school because they use a starting gun.

[diehli]

Wow... she just guaranteed her daughter's future as someone that grows smokable plants for a "living." Hell, the kid won't even be able to paint a sign. "Yes cab I het a yallow of hreev paift?"

On a somewhat similar note the LA Times is spewing it's anti-gun propaganda as "news" again. Two articles in today's paper. One on the settlement of LA County with Great Western Gun Shows... saying that the gun shows were the "venue of choice for illegal transactions." Sure it was a quote from some mook in power, but they didn't offer any evidence as to what percentage of "illegal transactions" (which are mostly "assault" weapons transfers/sales... the ban on which is being constitutionally challenged in the SCOTUS by Gary Gorski to the opposition of both the NRA and CRPA) were, in fact, conducted at gun shows. Additionally they didn't go on to clarify how many of these "illegal transactions" were performed by otherwise law-abiding citizens (which is extremely important... why herd gun owners fed up with un-Constitutional laws with lowlife scum that will kill for $20?). *Sigh*

The second article was on S&W's new .500 S&W revolver. Little gems worth excerpting include a VPC rep saying "'[This gun is] being made for bored white gun owners in America. Why are they putting so much firepower into people's hands?'" Additionally, one of the Brady Bunch noted "'What we have here is a weapon that's designed to appeal to people who just want to make a bigger hole in whatever they're shooting at. And, hopefully, they're not living next door to me.'" Glad to see that the "liberals" are so open-minded when it comes to people with different values (like not stiffling rational thought).

They then quoted a "gun expert" in UC Davis' director of the Violence Prevention Research Program. To make sure the sheeple maintained they're high level of fear included his statement (but not a direct quote) about the cartridge having "about twice the muzzle energy of most rounds for common semiautomatic assault weapons used in America, such as the AR-15."

The only people quoted on the pro-gun side were a firing range owner that said "'I already own the most powerful handgun on the market, and if they build a more powerful one, then I want to buy it,'" the executive director of Gun Owner's of California who "acknowledged that the Model 500 could be portrayed as the 'boogeyman of all guns,'" and the LA Sheriff's firing range master who said "he didn't believe it would become a street weapon, because 'gangbangers don't have $900 to spend on a Smith and Wesson revolver.'" It's nice to see that the LA Times got the best, brightest, and those that carry the most clout in their respective industries (gun control and gun manufacturing) to accurately represent the issue.

The coup de gras in this lesson in Journalistic Integrity was the final quote from the genius from the Brady Bunch: "'They're marketing this weapon to people who get off on the idea that they have the biggest baddest gun on the block.... Unfortunately, a number of them are going to juvenile gang members and people who have an unhealthy fascination with firearms.'"

But at least it's only on the front page... not too many people will read it or take it all as fact.

Kalifornia and Kanadia... the first and last two letters aren't the only things they have in common.

(Edited by 300lbGorilla at 12:27 pm on Feb. 14, 2003)

[Mike Dame]

I think I will start a petition to have them deported. Smith Falls has a level 3 coming up, I hope they can hear all the sweet sounds of GUN fun from their twisted little homestead. I'm with Erik on the C- word issue, write it on her license plate so that everyone knows.

My name is Mike and I AM CANADIAN and a gunowner, any one who has a problem with it can kiss my brass.

[SiG Lady]

Shooters ready!...

Stand by!..........

[38supPat]

Remember Canadas the country that said it was setting up a firearms registry and it would cost $2 million....it is now over $1 BILLION. Thats $998,000,000.00 over projected cost....and nobody has resigned, been charged or hung.

(Edited by Pat Harrison at 4:39 pm on Feb. 14, 2003)

[George D]

"The word gun is synonymous with death." said Mrs. Sousa

Canada used to be a democratic country. What about the parents who want their children to be taught the realities of life. Are they to be denied by one Sousa (Sousa being synonymous with IDIOT).

(Edited by George D at 11:57 am on Feb. 15, 2003)

[George D]

Perhaps on their next sojourn into the Canadian wilderness the Sousas will come across a pacifist bear that will concur with them on their mutual hatred of guns, before eating them. But maybe they have anticipated this possibility and will guard against it by having the word “bear” banned as well.

[Nolan]

I hope her husband isn't related to John Philip Sousa.  If my memory (what's left of my memory) serves, John Philip Sousa was a GUN enthusiast and a noted collector of fine firearms.

Maybe someone should point out the possible relationship.  Hopefully she would be so disgusted that she divorces Mr. Sousa who retains custody of Chloe who goes on to win the Gold medal for Free Pistol at the 2018 Olympics.  All because of a spelling lesson.

[Rufus The Bum]

I think she's discovered the cure to violence.  Lets all just remove our children from school all together, home school them, teach them to sing happy-happy-joy-joy songs, pamper to their every need, MAKE them watch endless hours of the Brady Bunch, so they can go out into the world with all the tools they need to get their asses kicked.  How unbelievably stupid are these people?  Is that what politics has come down to?  My Dad bought me an FIE .25 auto for my 12th Birthday and I shot that thing (under his supervision) until it fell into pieces.  I didn't become some gangbaner who does shady things in dark allies.  That stands true to 99.9% of the Civilized worlds population, but unfortunately, it's the .1% that makes us all look like criminals.  I wonder when the last time this "lady" held a gun (If ever)  I wonder if she has ever talked to any people who have used firearms to defend their families life?  I wonder when the last time she ever thanked a cop for giving her a safe neighborhood to sleep in at night.   She's probably some homemaker like Tipper Gore who's just looking for a cause to justify her miserable existence.  

[TBF]

" Marketed to.... people with an unhealthy fascination for firearms. " I want one. I would rather be " unhealthy " than a FREAKIN IDIOT !              Travis F.

[BrianH]

---

I think she's discovered the cure to violence.  Lets all just remove our children from school all together, home school them, teach them to sing happy-happy-joy-joy songs, pamper to their every need, MAKE them watch endless hours of the Brady Bunch, so they can go out into the world with all the tools they need to get their asses kicked.  How unbelievably stupid are these people?

---

Sounds like you've been hanging around my brothers house.....

[SiG Lady]

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!...

[DogmaDog]

This whole .500 revolver thing is just retarded.  I'm gonna have to go check out the gun itself.  

But why the hell has it caused a stir?  

I didn't hear anything when they introduced the .460 Rowland.  The .454 Casull.  The .50 Action Express (Desert Eagle, automatic, available in tacky gold finish, like ganstas on TV really like).  .500 Linebaugh.  

Why is S&Ws big gun so much higher profile?

Why is a gun so singularly unfit for duty as an offensive or defensive weapon attracting any attention at all?

And back on the thread, can we make sure to remove the number ".5" from the curriculum, because it is associated with especially bad guns.  Can we also stop teaching physics and engineering, so no one will be able to make guns?  

Thank you,

DogmaDog