More silliness....school asks deaf child to change his sign language

[RKM]

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (CBS St. Louis) — A Nebraska school district asked a deaf preschooler to change his sign language name because they believe the hand motion he used looked like he was shooting a gun.

The family of 3-year-old Hunter Spanjer said that their deaf son’s sign gesture violates the Grand Island Public Schools weapons policy.



“He’s deaf, and his name sign, they say, is a violation of their weapons policy,” Brian Spanjer, Hunter’s father, told Nebraska based news channel KOLN. “It’s a symbol. It’s an actual sign, a registered sign, through (Signing Exact English).”

He also started a Facebook page in an effort to support his son’s sign name, which has garnered nearly 1,000 supporters as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Grand Island school district is hoping to come to a solution to the sign gesture soon.

“We are working with the parents to come to the best solution we can for the child,” Jack Sheard, Grand Island Public Schools spokesperson, told KOLN.

The ACLU is backing the Spanjer family, asking the school district to reconsider making Hunter change his sign gesture.

 

[Werewolf]

There are only two things that are infinite.

The universe and mankind's capacity for stupidity.

And...
I am not sure about the universe.

Albert Einstein​

 

[kroberts2131]

Seriously? Thats all I know to say

 

[cichlid-dave]

wonder what would be said if the sign for his name looked like an eagle middle finger.

I

 

[shootermcgavin]

I honestly understand the school's point of view. Not saying I agree, just understand. I am a teacher of deaf children actually, and can see how it could cause a stir, especially if the student goes to a regular school. If he is at Nebraska school for the deaf, it's a different story. If one of my kids were to have a name sign like that I could see multiple students going home to tell their parents some kid was pretending to shoot him or something and you'd get some wack-a-doo parent complaining to the school all the time and it'd be a big headache. Just easier to ask them to change his name sign (from the school's point of view).

The flip side of the coin is society is so p.c. that we can't let boys play guns at school anymore or be boys. People need to get their panties out of a wad and relax some. But for the school system trying to protect themselves, I understand the reason behind asking. I think we are neutering society, and specifically boys and it is sickening.

But ultimately, it is the kid's name is my thought. It is something uniquely his and I get him wanting to keep that, and the deaf society would definitely stand behind that. I think my name sign is pretty cool and wouldn't want to change it. I'm just glad the parents are aware and involved. It is shocking how uninvolved many of the parents can be to their child who has special circumstances involving their education.... How many parents don't know sign language, let alone what a name sign is. I ask if their kid has a name sign already and they say, "a name what? no, what is that"..... "oh! that's pretty cool!" or "no they don't have one. Where can I get one?" (I've always wanted to say, "you can get one at the deaf counter in Wal-Mart. They are $12.95")

 

[ArGyLe64]

They're finger gestures. We used to play cops and robbers with finger guns all the time growing up and I'm only 32! This school and its administration are nitwits and just down right stupid.

 

[shootermcgavin]

http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi

Go to this website, click on "H" and scroll down to "hunt." Since the kid's name is "Hunter" I am guessing it is something similar to this.

Oh, and I think that sign is absolutely ridiculous to use for hunt. I can't speak for you, but I've never mowed down any prey like that.

 

[AmericanPatriot]

Sure would like to have a one sided conversation with the principal of his school........

 

[Fyrtwuck]

It saddens me to see how far downhill things are going. When I was in school, almost all the kids I knew carried pocket knives, played cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers or some other kind of war game play.

Do that today and the whole district is in lockdown and here comes the cops and TV stations.

 

[tntrex]

He should change it to the middle finger just for the awsomeness