Deaf preschooler forbidden to sign own name because gesture resembles gun.
GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska -- School sign language controversy: Steve Ross reports at 9. Grand Island preschooler asked to change the sign for His name in mainstream school.
School demands that boy must change his name from Hunter because it violates its weapons policy. Hunter Spanjer says his name with a certain special hand gesture, but at just three and a half years old, he may have to change it.
"He's Deaf, and his name sign, they say, is a violation of their weapons policy," explained Hunter's father, Brian Spanjer.
Grand Island Public Schools's "Weapons in Schools" Board Policy 8470 forbids "any instrument...that looks like a weapon," But a three year-old's hands?
"Anybody that I have talked to thinks this is absolutely ridiculous. This is not threatening in any way," said Hunter's grandmother Janet Logue.
"It's a symbol. It's an actual sign, a registered sign, through S.E.E.," Brian Spanjer said.
S.E.E. stands for Signing Exact English, Hunter's sign language. Hunter's name gesture is modified with crossed-fingers to show it is uniquely his own.
"We are working with the parents to come to the best solution we can for the child," said Jack Sheard, Grand Island Public Schools spokesperson.
That's just about all GIPS officials will say for now.
Meantime, Hunter's parents say that by Monday, lawyers from the National Association of the Deaf are likely to weigh in for Hunter's right to sign his own name.
Despite whatever rules and regulations may exist, some Grand Islanders we spoke with said they don't think it's right to make a three year-old change the way he says his name.
"It's his name. It's not like he's going to bring a gun to school when he's three years old," commented Dana Schwieger.
"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," Grand Island resident Fredda Bartenbach reflected.
But for now, that's a discussion between the Spanjers and Grand Island Public Schools officials.
Deaf toddler told by school to change his name sign by Sameer Vasta In a horrible case of political correctness gone wrong, a Deaf boy is being told he's not allowed to sign his name at school anymore. School officials need a lesson in common sense.
Hunter Spanjer is like any other three-year-old boy: he goes to pre-school, plays with friends, and learns new things every day. If the local school district has its way, Hunter may have to learn how to say his name, all over again.
Hunter is Deaf, and communicates using sign language. School officials in his district are upset at the way his name is signed; they claim that the sign may look like wagging guns and that the perceived action is potentially threatening and inappropriate for the school environment.
The officials at the school district seems to be the only people who feel threatened by Hunter's name; the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of the Deaf have both urged the school board to reconsider its situation, and the general feeling is that the school is reading too much into an innocuous sign.
They are absolutely right. Forcing Hunter to change the way he signs his name is like changing his name itself. No school should be able to force a child to change her or his name because of an over-extension of political correctness. Hunter's signing of his name is not a threat to anyone at the school or in the school district; it is his way of connecting with people, making friends, and forging his identity.
I have no doubt that the school district will realize its folly and reverse their decision soon, if not today. Their knee-jerk reaction was made without any common sense or any concern over the well-being of their student a contrarian behavior from an organization that is supposed to have the well-being of the student as their primary concern.
Until then, let's make sure that the school officials realize that sometimes decisions need to be made with a little thought and a little context, rather than in a vacuum from up high. And let's make sure little Hunter knows that his name is his own, and he should be proud of it and proud of who he is.
SOURCE
Related - Tubers Repsonses:
School says Deaf boy's name sign looks too much like a gun @ Hunter Spanjer.
School asks deaf preschooler to change his sign language name.
Child's name violates the school board's.... well, you won't believe me.
3 year old Deaf boy Hunter Spanjer is told by pre school to change the way he signs.
Hunter Spanjer's School Won't Let Him Sign His Name?!.
Deaf Preschooler Hunter Spanjer is Forced to Change Sign Name.
School wants deaf 3-year-old to change name because the way he refers to himself in sign language.
School asks deaf preschooler to change his sign language name.
Featured Post
Do not make the work of Deaf YouVideo content look like your own. Give credit where it is due and requires that articles be based on reliable published sources.
Posts Archive
Most Viewed Last 7 Days
-
Why are annoying Jehovah's Witnesses door knockers so disrespectful to Deaf people, the community around the globe. This blog actuall...
-
The Biblical of Deafness "I Cannot Hear" by John Conrad Ruppel. The Bible verses about " Deafness ." John Ruppel of...
-
Play Free Creepy and Scary Game: Sinthai's The Halloween. Here comes a brand new scary game from the creator of the popular game The ...
-
This is a short glimpse into the lives of some of Thailand's Deaf working girls in Bangkok. Anyone had experience with Deaf women in...
-
Deaf News: Michael Hubbs is a con artist, claims his former pastor who turned atheist. Michael (Mike) Hubbs is a con artist in the Deaf ...
-
WATCH: The Deaf community is converging at the capitol to file a complaint in an effort to get interpreters their jobs back. NEW HAVEN, C...
-
Deaf people answer commonly googled questions about being Deaf. Have you ever asked these questions? "Don't all Deaf people read...
Most Viewed Last 30 Days
-
Why are annoying Jehovah's Witnesses door knockers so disrespectful to Deaf people, the community around the globe. This blog actuall...
-
The Biblical of Deafness "I Cannot Hear" by John Conrad Ruppel. The Bible verses about " Deafness ." John Ruppel of...
-
Prank and Spank, Annette and Scott Kerr has announced that possibly leaving YouTube. The tubers entertaining Deaf couple Annette and Sco...
-
Parental guidance is advised, The content may contain R-rated material, nudity and profanity not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. ...
-
This is a short glimpse into the lives of some of Thailand's Deaf working girls in Bangkok. Anyone had experience with Deaf women in...
-
Deaf vlogger WonderGent aka James Timothy "Tim" Troutman arrested for possession of child pornography. DALE CITY, Virginia -- A ...
-
An Omaha girl died of bacterial meningitis over the weekend after deteriorating very quickly. OMAHA, Nebraska -- Katie Engle, 7, was a se...
Most Viewed Of All Time
-
An Omaha girl died of bacterial meningitis over the weekend after deteriorating very quickly. OMAHA, Nebraska -- Katie Engle, 7, was a se...
-
The U.S. Winter Olympics Deaf Speedskater, Michael W. Hubbs arrested and mugshot for probation violation in Utah. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah --...
-
Democratic Vice President Joe Biden mocking an ASL interpreter. DANVILLE, Virginia -- Vice President of the United States of America Joe B...
-
Parental guidance is advised, The content may contain R-rated material, nudity and profanity not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. ...
-
Jehovah's Witnesses' ASL version "Stop Masturbating" under fire for misleading signs with facial expressions and body lang...
-
Deaf Protest will be held at the White House in Washington the District of Columbia on Sept. 5th and 6th 2015. WASHINGTON -- President Ob...
-
SportsMX - Kitchen Talk: "The Ugly Truth" Interview With Ricky Taylor. The premiere of Kitchen Talk show from SportsMX . This ...
-
The Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump - Marlee Matlin and Gilbert Gottfried were incredibly hilarious performances. NEW YORK CITY -- M...
-
Deaf News: Michael W. Hubbs announced that he was hositpalized by stress symptoms. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Michael (Mike) Hubbs of short...
About This Site
Deaf YouVideo is public web site and a free assessment for everyone. A public web site is a web site that you can use to have a presence on the internet. It is a public facing site to attract customers and partners, and it usually includes increase traffic. Feel free to exploring the online community - Deaf, Hearing-Impairment, Hearing-Loss, Sign Language, News, Events, Societies, Resources, Links, Videos, Vloggers and much more. Be sure to Bookmarks this website.
Submitted content, to whom it may concern of posting on this site: YouPrivacy
Submitted content, to whom it may concern of posting on this site: YouPrivacy
Videos and Channels Powered By YouTube
RSS Feed Content
Deaf YouVideo provided by YouTube, Blogger, Google Feedburner, RSS Feed are a way for websites large and small to distribute their content as well beyond just visitors using browsers. The feed icon feeds permit subscription to regular updates, delivered automatically via a web portal, news reader vlogs or blogs and etc. Submitted content and/or disabled by request consume content and will be immediately removed from Deaf YouVideo. If you see the content appears "error, blank, and feed not support", click home or refresh your browsers.
Copyright © 2020 Deaf YouVideo All Rights Reserved.
Deaf YouVideo. Powered by Blogger.