School Asks 3-Year-Old Deaf Preschooler To Change His Sign Language Name - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 08-26-2012, 04:37 AM

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School Asks Deaf Preschooler To Change His Sign Language Name
By Ron Recinto | The Lookout – 12 hrs ago....
Video courtesy KOLN/KGIN 1011 News/Nebraska Central News

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.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

Family Ties Forever! · 08-29-2012, 03:33 AM

He shouldn't have to change his name.

PZelda · 08-29-2012, 09:23 AM

I'm confused. Forefinger and index finger are the same thing, no? So what fingers are he crossing when he signs his name?

And as for the sign for gun in sign language... I don't cross any fingers when I sign "gun" so I'm even more lost by the article!

And Nebraska is only 2 states south of me... Must be a regional sign. ??? But "gun" in SEE and ASL are the same, if I remember correctly.

I agree - as long as he is not purposefully signing a vulgar word in order to say his name, I see nothing wrong with it. It's pretty hard to come up with a creative name sign for someone... So when you come up with one, that's really it. I'm still trying to think of a name sign for my very good friend I met thru work... and I've known her almost 2 years now.

(but we became friends nearly a year ago, so yeah)

08-26-2012, 04:37 AM	#1
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	School Asks 3-Year-Old Deaf Preschooler To Change His Sign Language Name link School Asks Deaf Preschooler To Change His Sign Language Name By Ron Recinto \| The Lookout – 12 hrs ago.... Video courtesy KOLN/KGIN 1011 News/Nebraska Central News 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. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
	__________________ Jenny Last edited by Family Ties Forever!; 08-29-2012 at 03:32 AM.

08-29-2012, 09:23 AM	#3
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I'm confused. Forefinger and index finger are the same thing, no? So what fingers are he crossing when he signs his name? And as for the sign for gun in sign language... I don't cross any fingers when I sign "gun" so I'm even more lost by the article! And Nebraska is only 2 states south of me... Must be a regional sign. ??? But "gun" in SEE and ASL are the same, if I remember correctly. I agree - as long as he is not purposefully signing a vulgar word in order to say his name, I see nothing wrong with it. It's pretty hard to come up with a creative name sign for someone... So when you come up with one, that's really it. I'm still trying to think of a name sign for my very good friend I met thru work... and I've known her almost 2 years now. (but we became friends nearly a year ago, so yeah)
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

08-29-2012, 03:33 AM	#2
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	He shouldn't have to change his name.