What's the plural of phoenix? Utah father thinks it's vulgar and a bad mascot name

The mythical namesake of Arizona's capital and biggest city has appeared in countless pieces of literature, on flags and in even comic books, but one Utah parent is concerned that the phoenix should not be the mascot of a new high school in his town.

Farmington High School is set to open in 2018. Kyle Fraughton, of Farmington, doesn't think phoenix should be the school's mascot because the word sounds similar to "penises" when pluralized.

Fraughton said hecklers would jeer vulgar comments at the school's athletic teams and hopes to curb potential bullying.

The phoenix was chosen as the school's mascot this month after students voted for it over firebirds, eagles, farmers, fox, silver foxes and silverbacks.

Principal Richard Swanson said the mascot is singular and represents the culture of the future school.

"We are one. We are the phoenix," he said in a Davis School District newsletter.

Fraughton told The Salt Lake Tribune that he and his neighbors were practicing potential cheers and were perplexed by how to pluralize phoenix. They initially tried phoenixes but it didn't sound right.

“I looked on Google and a couple hits down I saw that the plural of phoenix was either phoenixes or phoenices,” Fraughton told The Salt Lake Tribune. “I have no interest in my daughter or my son playing sports and getting referred to as something like a penis.”

A school district spokesman told The Tribune that the school reached out to several schools that have phoenix as a mascot. They use the singular form of the word and reported no crass comments.

Fraughton created a Change.org petition last week that has drawn more than 2,900 signatures as of Tuesday morning. The petition asks the Davis School District to reconsider the mascot and offer students another chance to vote.

"We would ask that you give all students a chance to vote again and select another mascot. One that better represents this great community of Farmington," Fraughton wrote. "This way you aren’t simply throwing away the votes of those who voted for phoenix, but giving them a chance to still have a say in the mascot name.

Several parents agreed.

"I believe the taxpayers, the ones paying for the facilities, should be making the decision of the mascot name. Phoenix is a city! I understand the whole mythical bird thing, but this isn't Hogwarts!" commenter Kim Reid wrote on Saturday.

Others were perplexed by Fraughton's priorities.

"You cannot eliminate every single reason in life your kids will be bullied, so instead of trying to shelter them, teach them how to handle it," commenter Kati Powell wrote on Monday. "There are REAL issues, in our country, state and city, and you want to focus energy and attention on what the cheerleaders chants will be?! This petition is so mortifying and embarrassing for those connected to this school."

Chris Williams, a district spokesman, said administrators remain confident students will mirror the reputation of the mascot.

"We don’t see anything about the plural version of phoenix having anything to do what’s going to be happening at the school or on the football field," he told Salt Lake City's Fox 13. "We think students are going to rise to the occasion."