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Education

School Allegedly Asks Deaf Preschooler to Change His Name Because Sign Language Version Resembles ‘Weapons’

Aug. 28, 2012 1:00pm Erica Ritz

Deaf Preschooler Hunter Spanjer May Change Name Because Sign Resembles Weapons

Hunter Spanjer demonstrates the sign for his name. (Photo: 10/11)

A deaf 3-year-old from Nebraska is being asked by the school district to change his name, his family alleges, because the way he refers to himself in sign language resembles “weapons.”

Apparently the Grand Island school district has a policy that prevents students from bringing “any instrument…that looks like a weapon” to school, and now hands can be considered “instruments.”

“Anybody that I have talked to thinks this is absolutely ridiculous. This is not threatening in any way,” Hunter Spanjer’s grandmother Janet Logue said.

Brian Spanjer, the boy’s father, added: “It’s a symbol. It’s an actual sign, a registered sign, through S.E.E. [Signing Exact English]”

Hunter signs his name by crossing his middle and index fingers– leaving his thumbs up– and then wagging his hands.

Watch an interview with the family, and a demonstration of the gesture:

The school is claiming the entire matter is a “misunderstanding” — but still wants Hunter to change his name.

Administrators say the issue has nothing to do with guns or weapons, just that the gesture is “not an appropriate thing to do in school.”

School spokesman Jack Sheard told the New York Daily News that rather than the condensed sign he uses now, they want him to spell out his name, letter by letter.

“We want to do what is best for every student in our district, and we care more about that than everything else,” Sheard remarked. “We are working with the parents to find the best solution we can.”

Apparently, local residents are not pleased with the school district.

Grand Islander Dana Schwieger said: “It’s his name…It’s not like he’s going to bring a gun to school when he’s 3-years old.”

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Comments (271)

Americanius
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:19pm
Parents need to tell Jack Sheard they will change his son’s name when he changes his name to Jackass.

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dacorvi
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:17pm
The illogic of liberals never ceases to amaze me. They are by far the stupidest people on planet earth. Of course, they think they are the smartest, but you and I know better. They prove their ignorance every single day. This is just another in a long line of examples.

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zoro51
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:12pm
SUE THE PANTS OFF THAT SCHOOL N TEACHER N SCHOOL DIST this IS ********

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stinkybisquit
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:11pm
Only if the school changes its name to: “IdiotsRunningThe” Elementary School. Or, have the kid have his sign name as the middle finger.

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normalmom
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:09pm
This no weapon tolerance has seriously gone off the deep end. These people have no brain and are supposed to be teaching our children. At his age and the fact he is deaf he needs good teachers focusing on teaching him more words in sign language and other important things for his future. This is not an important thing to be focusing on for a special needs kid. Absolute stupidity at that school.

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happ77
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:07pm
Every time I think I’ve seen or heard it all I realize that
these people will fall all over each other to see who’s
more stupid. They must stay up all night trying to come up with
something that will out do the last imbecile. VOTE people, start at the
local level vote for down home people, people whose common sense
hasn’t been “educated” into oblivion.

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ChuckHarding
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:05pm
There *is* *NO* right to NOT be offended! And there never has been. Maybe Hunter’s dad needs to show the school official what a *real* weapon looks like, close up and personal!

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00gabooga
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:05pm
MY ENTIRE BODY is a registered weapon!! I shouldn’t be allowed ANYWHERE, I’m so dangerous and awesome!!

I HAD to get fat and grow a beer-belly so I could legally be considered “Concealed.”

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- FREEDOMoverFEAR
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:14pm
  LOL consider your joke stolen buddy!
  
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NoResolution
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:05pm
I would give that school some sign language of my own. My middle finger.

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- CatB
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:16pm
  LOL That is what they should offer to change his name to.
  
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Deibido
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:01pm
Sue their ass off! The way you stop PC stupidity is sue them until it hurts and voters start raising hell and firing officials! Plan:
File Suit
Teach them a lesson
Fire everyone involved – deny benefits
Hire reasonable people
Move forward!

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65Mustang
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:00pm
Give my a ******* break from the lunatics that are running the school systems in the country…UNIONS!!!!

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anAmericanVet
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:58pm
Instead of changing the boy’s name CHANGE THE ADMINSTRATORS

Vote people, get rid of them

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Mr. H.
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:53pm
I thought Nebraskans had common sense. He’s 3! He’s still mostly a baby and he has no understanding of what the liberal idiot at the school is talking about, except that they do not like him or his name. Just how intolerant can they be?

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grayling646
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:53pm
“We want to do what is best for every student in our district, and we care more about that than everything else,” Sheard remarked. “We are working with the parents to find the best solution we can.”

Translation:
If you’ll think like I want you to think and live like I want you to live you’ll be a lot happier.

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- grayling646
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:02pm
  …and a question.
  
  Why are these parents ‘negotiating’. Why didn’t they take their kid out of that school?
  
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geminicontender
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:52pm
What a bunch of crap. Who are these spineless imbeciles we have in this country now? We are not allowed to do or say or ‘sign’ anything, anymore. Pathetic for what passes as compassion these days.

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BranBran
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:51pm
No way in hell I would change my sons name or make him sign his name letter by letter. This brings the “momma bear” out in me!!

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Balthazor
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:49pm
It makes my head explode that on the same day, on the same website, I can read a story about liberal idiots going out in public dressed as female genitalia; and read another story about liberal idiots being offended by a deaf kid’s signed name looking kinda sorta weapon-like.

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- FREEDOMoverFEAR
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:19pm
  Yup the feminist movement was great for this country!
  
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Unbelievable
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:49pm
Yet schools protect child molester teachers and pay their full salary…… And the unions and government workers wonder why regular everyday people bash them all the time!! This is only example # 5,678,491

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golfmax13
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:48pm
I wish he’d change his name to 2 middle fingers pointing upward.

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LB
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:44pm
Time to move schools

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cranberry
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:40pm
I wanna reach out and slap these school officials. Total crazytown. Shame on them!

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jackact
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:39pm
This must be part of the reasoning behind the media attempt to hide the presidents middle name?

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tweetybird
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:36pm
“We want to do what is best for every student in our district, and we care more about that than everything else,” Sheard remarked.

Why is it always for “the children”. We want what is best for “the children”…..except this kid. He gets screwed and has to change his name in sign language so that everyone else (teachers and probably some dumb @ss parent……I doubt any child in his class cares) is “not offended”. Whatever…….I am so sick of all this PC crap!!! All these people getting “offended” is so stupid. We all get offended one time or another. I don’t like the color red….I think I will complain so no one can ever wear the color red ever again.

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Mandors
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:36pm
Really dumb people in the administration (must be catchy), fire them all.

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woodyee
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:33pm
Any Leftist out there want to come on here and defend this absurdity?

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- DexterMorgan
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:43pm
  Just wait Woody. They’ll probably be here soon enough. But not as quickly if Hunter displayed a cross or signed a prayer before lunch.
  
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- Just_Us2
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:45pm
  The lefties that troll here defend sucking the brain out of a newborn in the name of personal choice and freedom. Since they routinely rationalize state sanctioned murder, this should be easy for them.
  
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- JRook
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:48pm
  Ok this report is just dumb on every level.
  
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- CatB
  Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:51pm
  Once again proving that MORONS are running the public schools. HOME SCHOOL … the only way to cleanse the public schools is to put them out of business! Vouchers and home schooling.
  
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