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Crime

Hero Teacher Reportedly Tackles Gunman at Illinois High School

Sep. 7, 2012 7:38pm Jason Howerton

Hero Teacher Reportedly Tackles Shooter at Normal, Illinois High School

Normal Community High School students are led by a teacher to a nearby church as students were evacuated after shots were fired in a classroom at the high school Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, in Normal, Ill. Authorities say police have taken two people into custody. No one was injured. (Credit: AP)

NORMAL, Ill. (TheBlaze/AP) – An otherwise normal morning turned into a nightmare scenario in Normal, Ill., Friday as a gunman opened fire at a high school. It is the latest in a series of shootings across the United States.

A teacher tackled a 14-year-old student and detained him just after the teen fired a gunshot into the ceiling of a packed Illinois high school classroom Friday, police and witnesses said. No one was injured.

The boy was taken into custody and questioned by police while Normal Community High School’s more than 1,800 students were evacuated to a nearby church where parents could pick them up, Normal police chief Rick Bleichner said.

Investigators weren’t sure how the handgun was brought to school or why, and as far as they knew no one in particular was targeted, Bleichner said.

A student who was in the classroom said the gunman walked to the front of the room and pulled the gun, a hatchet, a canteen he said was full of kerosene and a bottle of what he said were painkillers out of a backpack.

“I heard the teacher say ‘Please, no!’ So I looked up and he had pulled out a weapon and pistol, and said, ‘Now it’s time for you guys to listen to me,’” Sean Kennedy, who also is 14, told WGLT radio in Bloomington.

Both Bleichner and Kennedy said a few students managed to slip out of the room, and Kennedy said that led the shooter to fire the first shot into the ceiling. The shooter told at least one student he wouldn’t hurt them, Kennedy said, and after lining the remaining students up against a wall complained that no one was willing to listen to him about unspecified problems. The shooter then set the gun down and turned away from it.

“My teacher, he stood up and ran, grabbed the gun and then (the shooter) jumped on top of the teacher’s back,” Kennedy said, adding that a second shot was discharged during the struggle.

Officers who entered the classroom just after 8 a.m. after receiving a number of 911 calls found the teacher, whose name was not released, had the student under control, Bleichner said.

“How he obtained that weapon, we’re still investigating that,” the police chief said.

Parents were told about the incident through the school’s electronic alert system and told later in the morning to pick up their children at the church, a process that took several hours because the school required parents to show photo identification and sign each child out of school, McLean County Unit District No. 5 Superintendent Gary Niehaus said. Those who couldn’t be picked up were being bused home late in the afternoon.

Classes in the school district’s other five schools went on Friday afternoon, but the Normal Community campus remained closed as a crime scene, according to the school district’s website. Students were allowed to retrieve cars still parked at the school but were expected to be able to gather belongings inside later. A football game scheduled for Friday night was moved to Saturday.

Classes at Normal Community are expected to resume Monday, Niehaus said, and potential changes such as the addition of metal detectors already were being discussed. He also said he hoped everyone from students and teachers to parents would help prevent any repeat of Friday.

“I want every parent to check a book bag when they go in, I want every student to be curious about what’s in someone else’s book bag and I want my teachers and staff to feel that they have my backing if they feel the need to search (a backpack),” he said

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (85)

JTX
Posted on September 8, 2012 at 6:12am
GOOD ON THAT TEACHER! Give that guy a medal.

Put that little 14 year old Sack of CRAP in the SLAMMER.

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- jcldwl
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 7:32am
  Has to be one of the closeted conservative teacher. Way to take action to prevent a disturbed misguided child from harming anyone.
  
  Report this comment
- Frameman
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:52am
  He will probably be suspended for improperly touching a student and violation of union rules banning heroism
  
  Report this comment
- caveman74
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:29am
  THIS JUST IN…PARENTS REQUIRED TO SHOW PHOTO ID TO PICK UP KIDS AND SOME KIDS WERE FORCED TO RIDE THE BUS……..oh yah and a teacher saved an entire classroom from being gunned down and possibly lit ablaze with carosene…….Thats my promo piece Im going to submit to CNN do you guys think they will hire me lol
  
  Report this comment
- muffythetuffy
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:30am
  The wood be assassin is black, the students are white. The teacher is white. Teachers should be allowed to pack sidearms in schools if they choose to. Many schools have COPs in schools so guns are not an issue. COPs cannot be everywhere all the time and are an expensive method of protecting everyone. Let the teachers be armed. I would fell better if there were teachers in my kids classroom who can protect my kids.
  
  Report this comment
- muffythetuffy
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:31am
  Assassins should be carried out of schools not students.
  
  Report this comment
- puravida56
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:44pm
  Frameman said “He will probably be suspended for improperly touching a student and violation of union rules banning heroism”
  
  The first part rings true- the second doesn’t. I could see him being suspended by the school, but it will be the union defending him against the suspension. Then Fox news will run a story about how unions defend worthless teachers….even a teacher in Illinois that improperly touched/ assaulted a student.
  
  In all seriousness- this guy is a hero and saved lives. That’s awesome!
  
  Report this comment
- The-Obama-Romney-Ticket
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 3:55pm
  Well, the “GUNMAN” was a fourteen year old BOY.
  Now, let’s get more facts. What was the color?
  SHOW ME THE COLOR! (Afraid of something? … like FBI American crime statistics?)
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 4:42pm
  I propose a ban on tackling. Our founders never could have realized just how much damage dropping your shoulder and charging someone can do to the poor fellow. Back then, there was no football and you couldn’t run very far because of upset stomach from dysentery.
  
  Yup. I’m not making excuses or anything
  
  Report this comment
- QuiteContrary61
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:28pm
  Is it true that the gun boy was black? I guess this was a hate crime…right?
  
  Report this comment
- Wicked-n-wise
  Posted on September 10, 2012 at 6:41pm
  The local paper said he will be charged for16 felonies, keep him in jail til he is 21. Dunno who assumed the boy was black, but you are wrong. The boy is autistic and has suffered at the hands of several non white thugs… If we keep the hands off policy when non whites are bully’s, perhaps thinning out the thugs is a good idea?
  
  Report this comment
- Wicked-n-wise
  Posted on September 10, 2012 at 7:41pm
  Note: I do not endorse autistic kids toting guns to school, just saying there should be some serious recourse for bullying, kids with disabilities.
  
  Report this comment
DarkJello
Posted on September 8, 2012 at 3:06am
“pick up their children at the church, a process that took several hours because the school required parents to show photo identification and sign each child out of school…”

Racism!!! Photo id unfairly targets people, and stuff. I know it to be true. Gasp!!

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- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 3:32am
  RIGHT. The only reason the Libs don’t want people to have to show their photo ID is because they want to have people vote more than once, in more than one place. They want to cheat. If there is anyone out there who doesn’t know that as a fact, I have a lot in the middle of the Everglades I’d love to show you.
  
  We need to stop the PC cr@p and start telling it like it is. We want automatic GUNS because we don’t want any GOBMENT to have more/better rifles than we can get. It’s called Balance. As far as this situation in this school…Thank GOD we have a teacher who is not afraid to take action. It’s pathetic that parents have to show IDS but people voting don’t. Good Call. SPEAK UP people. IF WE DO NOT SPEAK UP.. who will?
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 6:52am
  I think there are enough controls in place to stop multiple votings. They don’t want photo ID’s because then dead people couldn’t vote, dogs couldn’t vote, farm animals couldn’t vote.
- NancyBee
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 9:34am
  In my area……3 Democrats were charged with voter fraud with absentee votes…tearing up opponents votes and paying other voters to vote their way…..with chicken dinners and vodka…..True story!!!
  
  Report this comment
- sailsalot
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:30am
  Very good observation. They don’t want to use photo id or proof of right to vote id for voting because it might cause them to lose a few million votes. However, when voting is not the issue……
  
  Report this comment
- Mapache
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:58am
  How did the poor and minorities pick up their kids? I guess they are the ones that needed to be bused home in the afternoon…..IDs and busing in one article! :)
  
  Report this comment
- angelcat
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:14pm
  Caveman 74, did you say photo IDs were required? Isn’t that racist and discriminatory. How can the poor parents get photo IDs? Will their kids have to stay at school until someone can find a means for them to get the photo IDs they are incapable of getting to show so they can vote?
  
  Report this comment
Ask Uncle JZS
Posted on September 8, 2012 at 2:09am
“Hero Teacher Reportedly Tackles Gunman at Illinois High School”

Shouldn’t the headline read…..

“Hero Teacher Reportedly Tackles Gunboy at Illinois High School”????

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Lordcsmith
Posted on September 8, 2012 at 1:23am
I wonder if the FFRC is going to sue because they took them to a church to wait it out.

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- blackyb
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 2:31am
  Yes, it is a wonder they did not have to take down all the crosses, etc., before they could enter.
  ————-
  This is because a bunch of muslims and atheists are trying to take God out of everything and are anti-Christ.
  
  Report this comment
- davecorkery
  Posted on September 10, 2012 at 8:05am
  What are you so afraid of? Finding out that your buybull stories are just legends, and that you’ve base your life on boogeyman tales? Relax. You can still believe in holy sky thunderers.You might be the last one though. But knock yourself out.
  
  Report this comment
Duddio
Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:33am
Seriously? Photo ID??? someone call Eric Holder, this school is racist.

That teacher is a hero and should be given a raise. If it were my kids in that classroom, I’d want that kind of teacher leading it.

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- DarkJello
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 3:49am
  You nailed it! I got so mad about “racism”, that I forgot about the hero teacher.
  
  Report this comment
ronin_6
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:30pm
Good job teach! This needs to be the new normal. When some off their rocker whack job goes nuts its everyones job to mob him. Those who don’t should be charged with criminal recklsness for encouraging violence.

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valleyfever
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:28pm
Maybe this stuff would slow down or stop if you quit referring to Gunmen and Shooters. They are depraved, cowardly, little ba$tards.

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TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:27pm
Took awhile… Our education system noticeably changed after 1919 when John Dewey, an atheist, formed the Association for the Advancement of Progressive Education (AAPE) as a pressure and lobbyist group to influence public education. Since then public education has trended towards science and the removal of the Bible from public education. One of their first targets to get the Bible removed from the schools was George Washington. As the father of our country George Washington’s picture was in every class room, in every public building and on the money everyone had, the one dollar bill. His life story was the model taught in Sunday schools. His reputation had to be tarnished and schools, where our youth are taught, is the place to start.

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Voice1percent
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:03pm
But wait what about separation of church and state? I ma noa believa dis!!!

Ok enough with distractions I wonder if the Blaze is going to investigate this kid and see if the trail leads back to rammy manuel and his oracle in DC. Bet this kids parents are big lib supporters……where’s da trute??

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SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:52pm
The parents were told to pick up their children at church. Oh the hypocrisy!

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Buggs
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:38pm
Another “gun free zone”.

The only safe place left in this world are gun shops.

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gunslingerpatriot
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:31pm
Quick liberals-What was the weapon used to kill the first human in recorded history?

Ans….The jawbone of a donkey…Hey, I don’t want to get A55 bleeped out on this family friendly site.

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- Taquoshi
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 2:14pm
  Actually, Gunslinger, we don’t know what Cain used on Abel. All we know is that there was blood.
  
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Wolfgang the Gray
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:33pm
To all the anti-gun fanatics that are going to whine again to Washington, lets recap some reality.

A gun is a tool. It is not evil, it does not shoot on its own. If you took away every gun on the planet, people would still kill (or try) using one of the older technologies (knives, baseball bats, 2x4s, etc…).

Where did this kid get the gun? Most of the time, it is a relative’s gone that was not properly secured. Further, the parents probably did not instill the proper respect and policies towards the gun. That being you don’t take a gun to school because someone hurt your feelings.

When I was a kid (when dinosaurs roamed the Earth), we didn’t have this crap going on. We didn’t have Political Correctness that made everyone these fuzzy wuzzy wimps that have an emotional breakdown if someone calls them a name. We were taught name calling was nothing that really hurt us and we learned to let it slide off our back. If it was something really bad, we could turn and punch the other kid square in the nose and they usually quit bothering us. Their parents would tell the kid they got what they deserved. They didn’t call their attorney and file a law suit.

Should this kid get in trouble? Absolutely! If the gun belongs to the parents, should they get in trouble? Absolutely! Is this a sign of bigger issues in this nation? Most likely. Should be ban guns or enact even more gun laws that aren’t enforced? No bloody way!

Maybe we should follow II Chron

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- Lt_Scrounge
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:23pm
  Agreed Wolfgang. I took a lot of crap as a kid but was told, until they actually lay a hand on you, it’s just words.Whatever happened to teaching kids “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Oh wait, it’s hard to divide a country when everyone is taught that people can be jerks and not to let them get under your skin. The whole BS about political correctness and “hate” speech is creating what is happening. It’s also responsible for a lot of the inner city violence that comes from people thinking it’s okay to get violent because they feel they’ve been disrespected. Here’s a thought for those morons. When you do something to actually EARN some respect, you’ll get it.
  
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- Murkman
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:27am
  Amen brother!
  
  Report this comment
- Master.Debater
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 7:20am
  Where are the called for hatchet- and canteen- control?
  
  Report this comment
Patriot Z
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:01pm
wow. i grew up in decatur il…thats not that far away…Good job teacher!

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- Wicked-n-wise
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:40pm
  Hey Z, Decatur youth here too, normal resident now. Go W-L! Word locally is that another student took the gun out of the classroom after the gun was knocked away from the shooter.
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:00pm
  I was stationed at Chanute AFB in Rantoul — not that far away.
  
  Have the kids use mesh or clear plastic backpacks.
  
  Or better yet, listen to the kids…they will tell you who’s on the proverbial edge.
  
  Report this comment
- benjiTeaParty
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:25pm
  Add another Decatur – now east of Bloomington. Scary for the kids on lock down that had know idea what was happening. Teacher is a hero – parents of the kid need to start parenting!
  
  Report this comment
scout n ambush
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:48pm
Not very many good stories come out of Chicago this could have turned out real bad if not for a quick thinking teacher ,but thugs will get guns no matter what or how.Another recent story out of chicago got my attention when the govt held its gun buy back program at a local church a group of people set up op to buy back guns to save them from destruction and paid the people a little more than what the gov offered because $100 for a gun isn’t much .The group said they would make shure they went to homes where they would be cherished and treated with respect……It brings a tear to my eyes

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- Wicked-n-wise
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:28pm
  Normal is 2 hours from chi-town…. South, note to rest of world, Illinois would be a red state if we made chicago a state! Hey there patriot z….fellow decatur youth myself. Kudos to the teacher, sure he will be reprimanded for abusing the little child.
  
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- scout n ambush
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:34pm
  Oh now i see ,it wasn’t Chicago it was Normal Illinois
  
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- Scruff
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:03am
  Everyone in Illinois knows that nobody in Chicago is anywhere near Normal. I spent my childhood being just below Normal, myself – in Bloomington.
  
  Silliness aside — kudos to the NCHS teacher for taking action, and thanks to God for his gracious, provident hand!
  
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Jimizrite
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:47pm
hmmmm … probably George Bush’s fault somehow

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QuincySmith
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:15pm
Firstly, Kudos to the brave teacher possibly averting a tragedy.

Secondly, I am mystified that students were allowed to go to a CHURCH property – where is that separating WALL?

Thirdly, I don’t understand requiring parents to show ID before retrieving their children. If we don’t need ID to vote, we shouldn’t have to show ID to pick up (presumably) a child who lives with you and could easily identify the parent.

Finally, ““I want every parent to check a book bag when they go in, I want every student to be curious about what‘s in someone else’s book bag and I want my teachers and staff to feel that they have my backing if they feel the need to search (a backpack),” he said” ~~~ Where is the privacy presumption. These students should not be forced to give up their 14th amendment rights.

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- Elena2010
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:44pm
  The wall is only there for their convenience. They don’t want the church to think about teaching things like the difference betw right and wrong.
  
  I’m waiting for them to grope and grab the kids like TSA does!
  
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JD2020
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:12pm
Ummm Blaze what you posted is not what an eyewitness accounted.

Listen to this eyewitness.

http://wglt.org/wireready/news/2012/09/06885_Kennedy_q_and_a_for_ATC_165631.shtml

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- IOWAGIR
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:03am
  Thanks for that link. That’s amazing! Sounds like there were a few brave souls there. So glad it ended without blood being shead.
  
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flatdaddio
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:06pm
gee, if the background checks were done this would have never happened…/eyerolls…

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- floridareader
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:52pm
  Since when you can run background checks on outlaws? That only applies to law abiding citizens. And they are the ones politicians, crooks and U.N. fear the most: they don’t go around shooting people, but in need they know how to defend themselves.
  That is why Hillary Clinton and Obama were trying to sneak a “treaty” behind our backs to get rid of the Second Amendment. selling the US sovereignty to the best bid.
  Thank God the NRA exists.
  But we must remain vigilant. Sneaky politicians don’t waist time.
  
  Report this comment
- floridareader
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:11pm
  @ Flat
  Besides if the 14 year old kid had the gun how did he get it? Either he stole it from an adult in his house or from a friend, or he took it from his parents. Anyway, at his age he is not allowed to have guns, nobody can run background checks and he is an outlaw already.
  
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applehill
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:59pm
They really need laws to keep kids from taking guns into schools…. Oh wait!

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Conservative Christian
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:59pm
Some of my friends friends were in here. I live about 1 school district over from them. I’m glad God was watching over them and got everyone out safely.

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- bry
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:22pm
  Thankfully no one was harmed. I am happy none of your friend suffered an injury. Sadly, this scene could have ended in tragedy.
  
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- Patriot Z
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:06pm
  me too…i grew up in decatur which isnt that far away…
  
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Scott_Muto
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:58pm
If that was my classroom he would have never fired a shot. Although I would have to explain the bloodstains on the walls.

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- proliance
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:48pm
  Its always nice to hear from the Internet tough guys. You must have shot a lot of people.
  
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paulwbrown
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:54pm
The teacher is a hero and quick thinking. Did any of the kids in the room come to his aid? Doesn’t sound like it from the article, but I sure hope so after he risked his life for them.

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Walkabout
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:54pm
Sounds like a white kid.

Be interesting to see the family situation.

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- jmj2
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:10am
  Was a white kid. Autistic. The kid ranted about his father bullying him.
  
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CROCK-HANDLER
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:47pm
I guess the law banning guns from school…….DOESN’T WORK!

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- paulwbrown
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:56pm
  Of course it works but only for the law abiding students and teachers.
  
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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 7:57pm
  Maybe the shooter had not read the rules. I’m sure that is the problem. They need to put up more “no guns allowed” signs. How about a new law… people that want to shoot others are not allowed to have a gun. That should fix it.
  
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- Master.Debater
  Posted on September 8, 2012 at 7:23am
  They should use symbols instead of words on the signs. Many students can’t read too good.
  
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