School Allegedly Asks Deaf Preschooler to Change His Name Because Sign Language Version Resembles ‘Weapons’
- Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:00pm by
Erica Ritz
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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 (266)
stloocardsfan
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:33pmMy body is a deadly weapon for sure, but I do think the kid sign to the teachers that they are Number 1.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:58pmThey are #1 twice!
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:23pmStupid Article .. Stupid Claim. Come on Blaze.
Report Post »LetUsReason
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:27pmAnd while they’re at, let‘s change everyone’s name who is known by Gunther. It just makes me feel incomfortable. Wait! I think we should make Obama change his name. It sounds too much like “bomb”, which is violent rhetoric. Oh, wait! And Michelle, too. The second syllable sounds like “shell”….(gasp)! Aren’t those used in guns? Oh! Also, let’s not forget about their dog Bo. A bow is a weapon used in conjunction with arrows to slaughter people. Let’s all write a letter to the White House demanding that each one of them change their names.
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:28pmLetUsReason How about Hussain obama? How about changing hussain because it was the name of a mass murderer.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:45pmIt’s the school people that really need a sign, as “here’s your …
Report Post »auhunter
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:00pmCan’t have soda in the school, have to honor Muslim prayer but Christian, can’t say anything against the Muslims, or say anything they might take offense to, and now they want us to change names, because they are offensive. Let’s get back to the old days. When I was in grade school there was a flag in the corner and every morning we said the Pledge of Allegiance. Some of the clubs I belong to now still do and there isn’t a terrorist amongst us, and we still honor the office of the President, just not the man in it.
Report Post »Balpit
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:46pmIt’s scary how people this stupid are assigned jobs educating our kids.
Report Post »Anything to get out of actually TEACHING, right?
XScramblerX
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:25pmLiberal morons at their best!
Report Post »Yamhill354
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:41pmI see here many men referring to Women’s emancipation as the problem yet I come into contact with as many men (in fact it appears a man is at the root of this) as I do women. So back off Guys. I would be non Politically Correct in dealing with this. Good Grief! How darned stupid can these people be? The child’s name is Hunter. I know both boys and girls with this name. It seems to me they are fooling with his and his parents freedom of speech. He speaks in sign language, so where are the people who protect our freedom of speech? A right guaranteed by our Constitution!
Report Post »Chinishque
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:42pmMy body is only a deadly weapon after eating my five alarm chili. I think they should follow the schools rules and change the kids name…I mean after all he is only three and wont really know when he grows up and it will make all the other children feel safe…and dont you want that for the children?! I propose that the parents change the name of the child to GUNNAR or Schootz or Kaboom!!!!!!! Maybe even Tank or Rocket!!!! ….NNNOOOOOOO WAIIIIITTTT…DUKE NUKEM!!!!!
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:20pmThe libs are getting more ridiculous by the day. The best spoken vulgarity can’t adequately express my thoughts about these *%^$$ insane people!
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:27pmTHose parents should tell the school officials and anyone else to piss off- they can name their kid anything they want no matter what the hell it signs as. Pissant liberal ********.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:43pmIt’s not stupid. Discrimination of the handicapped is unreported. My son spoke only sign language when he was in 1st grade, using a “t” that you twist back and forth to ask to go to the toilet. They wouldn’t take him. The teacher refused to learn sign language. Period. Because “none of her other students used it.” If teachers will go balistic over a drawing of a gun, they‘ll next want to chop off people’s hands who point and “shoot.”
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:04pmDitto!
These social engineers are more concerned about every lil action, perceived intent, cross word, that its amazing they have any time to teach. What these kids must have to endure on a daily basis in schools today would rival my worst day in school easily. They are too young though to get it, but once they get up in the grades the rebellion will be seen. Hey teacher! Leave them kids alone!
Report Post »its_time_to_arrest_our_government
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 8:48pmid change it for one day to both middle fingers pointing straight up to show them what you think of their lame crap. if they are threatened by fingers what are they gonna do if or when civil war breaks out and we are out pointing real guns around. whiny ******** need to pack and get out of America because they are not going to like it when we get rid of all their commie crap. better get while the getting is easy.
Report Post »its_time_to_arrest_our_government
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 8:50pmits long past time to run these losers out of our country.
Report Post »tankyjo
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 12:26amTrue dat my friend!
Report Post »BowToNobody
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:02amGRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
http://www.gips.org/
Dr. Robert W. Winter, Superintendent
http://www.gips.org/contact_us
Jack Sheard, Grand Island Public Schools Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Twitter: @jacksheard
Email: jsheard@gips.org
Phone: 308 385 5900 Ext 127
As they don’t know much about schooling OR signing, they can practice figuring this one out:
Report Post ». . . //
oO//O
| . . ./
Consider them schooled.
Kevin The Elder
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 7:44amTo those administrators who say that the gesture is “not an appropriate thing to do in school” may I mentally send you a gesture of my own which I would guess that 99.99% here would approve of in this one instance. May I suggest that anyone involved with this decision be immediately suspended (to which hopefully will lead to a firing) as they themselves are obviously not qualified for anything involving human beings.
Report Post »AuntNet01
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 9:44amWhat have we done with common sense in this country???? … Have we become a nation of “fools” …. full of foolishness and stupidity ? This is absolute stupidity, this 3 year old boy is “NOT” BRINGING A GUN OR WEAPON TO SCHOOL …. HELLO !!!! … He’s using sign language … because he’s deaf!! I have NEVER heard of anyone being threatening with bodily harm or mass killings by someone using “SIGN LANGUAGE” as a weapon to commit the crime. Let start applying some “COMMON SENSE” … this should not even be an issue in this young boys life, he already has enough to deal with in life without this “stupidity” being added to it by so called “adults“
Report Post »GYSGT1985
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 3:13pmIdiots!
Report Post »do_it_all_again
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 8:44pm“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.”
If you wanted to do the right thing, you would leave the kid alone, let him grow up, and be proud of the name his parents gave him.
seriously, how did people so stupid, get jobs in the education dept.? i thought liberals wanted to kill people that were that stupid, considered them a burden, yet these idiots slipped through the cracks!
Report Post »Ty Coon
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:32pmExample: 8,445,671, of why Demonrat-Liberal indoctrinators of unionized nothingness, are so STUPID, they do not realize just how STUPID, they truly are !
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:02pmDo you think it’s a bunch of men running around the country calling for this type of BS? Or do you think the antigun lobby is perpetuated by mostly women? Damn you Susan B. Anthony!
Report Post »Landon410
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:30pma little sad that i live in nebraska right now…. wow…. didn’t know we had people that stupid here
can we ask other kids to change their names, like the kids whose names are clearly just made of collection of different letters?
I actually know a kid came over from sudan whose name was Gay Fword, yes the acutal F word, it was on his student ID drivers license everything. lets make him change his name too,
Report Post »and all those mexicans named Jesus, sorry that offends non christians change your name too
v15
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:01pmThis is coming from the state that deserted corn and decided to farm wind.
Report Post »Landon410
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:26pmv15
oh no they still farm corn
you should drive through the country in parts of Nebraksa Iowa and Missouri
giant corn and bean field with massive windmills in them. Those farmers get decent money for letting companies put those windmills there.
Report Post »About all of the twin cities in minnesota are powered by windmills in lyon county iowa those windmills are still in seas of corn though
Xplorer
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:48pm@V15
Report Post »Your probably thinking of Iowa.
MBA
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:26pmliberal *ssh*les. I hope the parents can find a better school for this little boy. He deserves better.
Report Post »DexterMorgan
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:25pmThis type reaction from the Tolerance brigaid. Not surprising.
Report Post »mattmo79
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:24pmGet your kids out of public schools, homeschool them!
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:06pmGood advice Matt.
Report Post »Hmschlmom
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 9:31pmAmen Matt!
Report Post »But I would add, move to a low homeschool regulation state first! (If possible)
Homeschooling law in the state of PA is set up to be adversarial with the school district.
(I have had the powers that be break the law numerous times…asking for things they don’t have the right to, lying about requirements of state law..)
HSLDA is a good friend…
I now include a copy of PA Act 169 in each of our children’s homeschool portfolios on page one, as a not so subtle hint for them to stay within the bounds of the law!
In PA, some school districts are SHAMELESSLY using portfolio review as an opportunity to intimidate homeschoolers back into enrolling their children (thus increasing funding during these tough financial times)
floridareader
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:24pmStupids!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:05pmGod forbid if your name is Gunnar and you are from Bullitt county. This is ridiculous gone too far.
Report Post »Someone said, about 10 years ago that some Monty Python skits would become reality soon and the time has come.
Ted Zeppelin
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:20pmI hope the people of Grand Island will remember this as the act of stupidity by the school district when the district wants yet another tax increase… “for the children”. For the childeren is union code for more pay and less accountabilty.
Report Post »Teaching is America’s best paying part time occupation with overly generous salaries, golden benefits, platinum retirement and not a speck of accountability.
Stelex
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:19pmI’m bleeding out over here, blood is still spewing from my eyes and nose……I made it through the article once but didn’t actually believe I just read that so I read it again. Don’t do that. It hurts
Report Post »ColoradoBoots
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:07pmI agree.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:18pmWhat a shame we have came to this.
Report Post »StandingOnMyHead
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:16pmI think I would be looking elsewhere for my child to go for his learning. Stupid is as stupid does and I would not want him learning from these most stupid idiots!
Report Post »this1can
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:16pmI guess it would be OK if his name was Dick and he used a sign that looked like he was jerking off. Love/pray
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:48pmYour post is as rude and this story is stupid.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:31pmGray if the story is stupid, why did you take the time to comment on it?
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:25pmScuba. What does my time and thinking something is stupid have to do with each other?
Report Post »GoodGolly
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:21pmActually I thought his words went straight to the heart of the matter. Really, where will this end? As someone else said, should men named Jesus be made to change their names because it offends atheists? “I” am offended that someone by the name of Hussein is sitting in the White House but I doubt anyone cares.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:14pmwant to fix this……………..get on the local school board then get rid of these people
FIRE THEM ALL and let them go bother a relative or buy some cats
Report Post »ChuckHarding
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:13pmMaybe Hunter should change his sign to extend his middle finger at the loony that started all this and his parents can do the same. Sheesh. If the idiotic school administrators would focus on what their job is *supposed* to be, which is ensuring that the children are educated, instead of all this PC crapola, the country would be *much* better off!!!
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:13pmdumb.
Reminds mne when parents had to fight schools because they enforced right hand writing only.
Report Post »Jim
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:02pmMine did too! My Mom told me to push down real hard and break the pencil when they tried to make me use my right hand. They got frustrated and let me use my left hand.
Report Post »scrudge
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:12pmAh Yes….. nations school system is a joke… some of these schools need their backsides kicked… thank GOD my kids are past the school age…. home schooling may just be the best for kids… except for some of the weird parents I have seen
Report Post »commoncents5
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:12pmJust more ignorance. There is way too much ignorance to shovel. Can someone please tell them to take a break for say a 1000 years or so?
Report Post »maxedout
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:11pmWHAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable. Insanity is now the rule.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:10pmThese people have gone nuts. That fool needs to be fired.
Report Post »4dogsandagun
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:09pmOkay folks. If you did not understand how and why our country is in the predicament it is in now, reading this will give you a big heads up. In the late 60‘s early 70’s we started down the slippery slope of “political correctness”and this is where we have ended up.I sure hope that these parents do not comply.We no longer can roll over and accept these crazy mandates. Stand up for your rights before you loose the right to name your child
Report Post »DebGal
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:29pmAmen to that! Well said. “Political correctness” has taken us on a road to the loony bin!
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:12pmWho pushes for political correctness? ACLU founded by Crystal Eastman. Women’s Christian Temprance Union was the main drive for prohibition. Code Pink founded by Cindy Thomas. Would hippies have existed if there hadn’t been a feminist movement, I doubt free love would have been much fun if the women weren’t there. All of this type of PC crap is due to the emasculation of this country which started with woman’s suffrage.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:08pmWe have lost our minds and any shred of common sense in this country.
Report Post »Skippy_John_Jones
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:07pmLiberal sensitivities and stupidity apparently knows no bounds whatsoever. I’ll bet if his name was Ph@llic, Trojan, or G0norrhea would be a-ok with the ‘enlightened elites” among us.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:06pmthe progressives asking for this name change should be fired instantly and never allowed near children again….these people are insane
Report Post »MrSunshine
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:05pmWe have witnessed the death of common sense in America. WTF?
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:08pmWe should sue because we cannot use sign language on the net.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:24pmThe school administrator seemed very pleased with himmself.
Report Post »Popp40
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:04pmpoke, push, shove…….you decide where this school stands in this situation.
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 6:32amValerie could earn that in 3 days on a hotel bed.
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