School asks deaf preschooler to change his sign language name

Robotech Master · Aug 28, 2012

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout...oler-change-sign-language-name-191629255.html

Three-and-a-half year old Hunter Spanjer, who is deaf, signs his name by crossing his forefinger and index finger and moving his hand up and down.

To his family, friends and those who know the Signing Exact English (S.E.E.) language that the Grand Island, Neb., boy uses, that gesture uniquely means "Hunter Spanjer."

But to Hunter's school district, it might mean something else. The district claims that it violates a rule that forbids anything in the school that looks like a weapon, reports KOLN-TV.

And Hunter's parents claim that Grand Island Pubic Schools administrators have asked them to change their son's sign language name.

"Anybody that I have talked to thinks this is absolutely ridiculous," Hunter's grandmother Janet Logue told the TV station. "This is not threatening in any way."

Hunter's father Brian Spanjer said, "It's a symbol. It's an actual sign, a registered sign, through S.E.E."

The family told KOLN that lawyers from the National Association of the Deaf may push for Hunter's right to sign his name at the school.

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

One Grand Island resident said she disagrees with the school.

"I find it very difficult to believe that the sign language that shows his name resembles a gun in any way would even enter a child's mind," Fredda Bartenbach said in the news report.
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Utterly ridiculous. Every school administrator who was involved in this decision needs to be publically flogged and humiliated....

How can people be so stupid? It defies reason...

oldfella1962 · Aug 28, 2012

I know a "sign" with my middle finger that the administration might understand!

Tuttle · Aug 28, 2012

Smells like liberals to me.

Oh, and, .

Heh.

Robotech Master · Aug 28, 2012

Oh, nevermind, didn't see the other thread. Please close this one.

Paladin · Aug 28, 2012

Done.

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School asks deaf preschooler to change his sign language name

Robotech Master '

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Tuttle Listen kid, we're all in it together.

Robotech Master '

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

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School asks deaf preschooler to change his sign language name

Robotech Master '

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Tuttle Listen kid, we're all in it together.

Robotech Master '

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

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