Comments on: NYC Sued On Behalf Of Teen Named Osama

Parents Claim Constant Harassment By Teachers Led To Suicide Attempt

[ajaxrose1]

Why should this young boy have to change his name EVER? If the teachers truly did this *** then they deserve to lose their jobs and the school deserves whatever it gets. The only thing I would have done differently would be to have gotten my lawyer to make a phone call to school administrators about two years sooner with a cease and desist order. I wouldn't have been able to go that long knowing how my son was being treated, but everyone is different and not everyone is as comfortable at questioning so called "authority" as what I am. THIS is NOT the middle FREAKING east, people! Supposedly we don't treat people like that in this country anymore and shame on anyone who does regardless of their differences. I'm glad the kids in the school had the sense and decency that their adults teachers OBVIOUSLY lack.

[zachv2]

Wow. Wouldn't it be common sense to change your name? Society has come quite a far way. The exact same thing happened in the 1940s, except people aren't suing their schools.

I mean, how many Hitlers are listed in the phone book? And since when did a Mussolini sue a school because he didn't change his name?

[berniepeders]

Toughen up kid, either change your name or move to Afghanistan.
Posted by cbgb31 at 01:03 PM : Jun 12, 2007

cbgb: Right on! I couldn't agree more. Don't come here and name your kid Saddam or Osama and not expect them to catch some guff from people. We're still bitter about 9/11.

[tucano2]

Change your name to Jack, or, Charlie, or whatever.

[blondmadison]

FAX YOUR SENTIMENTS TO THE FACULTY AND PRINCIPAL.

SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Principal: John P. Tuminaro

Local Instructional Superintendent:
Margaret Schultz Phone: [phone]

Education Council President: David Bloomfield

Parent Coordinator: Concetta Assennato
Phone: [phone]

PTA President: Anna Pisano
PTA Co-President: Rosanne Pelligrino

School Contact Information:
100 LUTEN AVENUE
STATEN ISLAND, NY 10312
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Region: 07
Administrative District: 31
Borough: Staten Island
School Number: 455
Student Enrollment: 3783
Grade Level: 9,10,11,12,SE
Police Precinct: 123

Send those cards and letters folks. Here is the address, phone #, fax--couldn't find an email address for principal and faculty.

something tells me theres 2 sides to this story and we're only getting the kid's perspective.

If the teachers really did what he said they did, they should definitely be fired, but I have worked with kids and they are very good at manipulating the facts.

[blondmadison]

Dear cbgb31:

Why should anyone have to change their name?

SO A TEACHER WILL NOT FIND WAYS TO PUT THAT PERSON DOWN??? In this case, yes.

I have been ribbed all of my life about my name--but in funny kind ways--not hateful--(last name is BOND!!)

His name is not funny, nor does it remind anyone of a celebrity or film character.

If faculty and principal cannot do better than what has transpired---THEY NEED TO GET OUT. Period. The test has all ready been given and they flunked badly. Stop finding ways around their racism--and call a spade a spade.

[blondmadison]

Dear cbgb31:

Why should anyone have to change their name?

SO A TEACHER WILL NOT FIND WAYS TO PUT THAT PERSON DOWN??? In this case, yes.

I have been ribbed all of my life about my name--but in funny kind ways--not hateful--(last name is BOND!!)

His name is not funny, nor does it remind anyone of a celebrity or film character.

If faculty and principal cannot do better than what has transpired---THEY NEED TO GET OUT. Period. The test has all ready been given and they flunked badly. Stop finding ways around their racism--and call a spade a spade.

[ammermantm]

Posted by thgdriver at 01:06 PM : Jun 12, 2007

that is completly true, if it were kids (and I am sure of them did) but if this kid bloodied the nose of a teacher he would be expelled.

[thgdriver]

Ammermantm

That's very true, but if you think this kid going through the rest of his life not to be teased is very commendable on your part but it ain't going to happen. How many lawsuits can we expect to be filed in his lifetime???!! I am not saying teasing is right but speaking for myself my last name rimes with another word and was teased a plenty by plenty. I never changed my name. A few found out that after a bloody nose it was not a good idea to tease me it slowed but never stopped. As I stated, change the name or put up with the teasing.

[cbgb31]

Toughen up kid, either change your name or move to Afghanistan.

[cbgb31]

Maybe this will be Hillary's campaign focus since she's courting the woman vote. Kids getting teased at school, it's a national empergency. Vote for me and I'll give universal private education to any kid that's been teased.

[mmpac]

I wonder how someone named "Jesus" / HeyZeus is faring in the middle east?

[itwasntme000]

Seriously tho it isn't that hard to go thru a name change, and i am more then sure it would be a simple process being that his name is osama.
Osama will be one of those retired names like adolf in the future. Nobody has a kid and thinks to them selved "dosen't he just look like a little adolf" ....
Then their is jeffrey dahmer sitting back wondering what he has to do to get some damm respect. haha... if you can force us to retire your name you did some really bad things.....

[cbgb31]

Don't let this kid down! They did this to him being certain they could get away with it. Let's not let that happen.

Posted by BlondMadison at 12:25 PM : Jun 12, 2007


Oh my, fret frett. this is sooo important everybody listen up. This kid is the most importnat thing right now. Get hte nelly hens cackling and get Oprah on this right away. CHANGE THE KIDS NAME. Good god, woman.

[wendyhoo-2009]

Are you serious.... This is about ADULTS who are in the FIELD OF COMPASSION and caring for OUR CHILDREN and educating them. THEY ARE NOT TO BE TALKING TRASH TO THEM... If the kid accepted the teasing and laughed about it with the teachers etc... then cool but apparently he wasn't so it shouldn't had kept going on. OH and DO YOU THINK IT IS RIGHT TO BE TOLD DON'T BOTHER TO COME TO CLASS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PASS ANYWAY. The story doesn't say it is because of his name but we are led to believe that and I truly believe that. That is not teasing... That teacher should be fired undoubtly. She/he shouldn't be able to teach our young with giving comments like that. I am ashamed of most of the posters thinking this is ***. I for one do not like what happened on 9/11 but this is a child who has the right to go to school and be taught by the teachers not taunted. Different if it were the kids... cause kids will be kids and are mean and cruel.

[ammermantm]

thgdriver,

unless you are talking about an 80 year old Adolf it is a bit different. Bin Laden is in the news every day, Americans argue about Iraq and Islam every day. The fear of terrorists is real every day. and allegedly these teachers were taking it out on a poor kid that has nothing to do with terrorism or Bin Laden

[tlabonte68]

I knew an Egyptian named Osama who prefered, long before 9/11, to be known as Sam. Kids of all ages can be extremely cruel-it defy logic sometimes how people can make comments and feel that because "they aren't mean-spirited", or "they were only joking" that it won't hurt someone. Bullying comes in all shapes and sizes and more should be done to stop it. No child left behind?

[lanaedawn]

I think it says a lot that the children were sympathetic and didn't join in on the teasing. Too bad its the children who are mature and empathetic and the adults who acted like idiots.

[thgdriver]

So, let's see, if I name my children after infamous people I should expect them not to be teased? Or I name them then sue everybody that make a joke of it.
Osama said the students at his school did not participate in the tormenting. That is just plain bull shi!. Not one kid made fun of his name? Hardly.

I have been around a while and never met anyone named Adolf or Hitler as a last name for that matter. Change his name and let's move on or put up with the teasing. That's your choices.