"Deaf Toddler Punished For Signing Name In Preschool"
"Three-year-old Hunter Spanjer, who is deaf, signs his name by crossing his middle and index finger before moving his hand up and down.
Those who know American Sign Language language realize that Hunter's gesture is a name sign, a movement that means “Hunter Spanjer” and has been his signed personal identification since birth. But to Hunter’s school district in Grand Island, Nebraska, it means a threat -- and an excuse to punish a toddler for "implied violence."
According to administrators, Hunter’s sign-language name looks too much a pantomimed weapon for him to use the gesture during school hours – and right now, they’re demanding Hunter’s parents change his name before he can come back!
In the face of hyper-political correctness, school officials are willing to force a little boy to abandon a name he’s had since birth, making him feel even more like a "freak" or an outsider. But we have a chance to help.
Right now, representatives from the National Association of the Deaf are fighting for Hunter’s right to sign his name in school. If enough of us speak out, we can convince the Superintendent to let him keep the name “Hunter” by the time school starts next week – but we have to act fast!"
With a link to a petition, which can be found here.
I looked into it some more and came across more articles, like this one: here and many more like it... but this all started in August and I can't find any updates on what happened with him. I really want to know what's become of this incident... There are plenty of things, like that petition, that want to help still. But no updates on this anywhere since September when this article here was posted which some minor updates, like the family's reactions to all the support.
Can anyone else tell me if they can find more? Please and thank you.
(Also, again, there is something very wrong with society.)
Those who know American Sign Language language realize that Hunter's gesture is a name sign, a movement that means “Hunter Spanjer” and has been his signed personal identification since birth. But to Hunter’s school district in Grand Island, Nebraska, it means a threat -- and an excuse to punish a toddler for "implied violence."
According to administrators, Hunter’s sign-language name looks too much a pantomimed weapon for him to use the gesture during school hours – and right now, they’re demanding Hunter’s parents change his name before he can come back!
In the face of hyper-political correctness, school officials are willing to force a little boy to abandon a name he’s had since birth, making him feel even more like a "freak" or an outsider. But we have a chance to help.
Right now, representatives from the National Association of the Deaf are fighting for Hunter’s right to sign his name in school. If enough of us speak out, we can convince the Superintendent to let him keep the name “Hunter” by the time school starts next week – but we have to act fast!"
With a link to a petition, which can be found here.
I looked into it some more and came across more articles, like this one: here and many more like it... but this all started in August and I can't find any updates on what happened with him. I really want to know what's become of this incident... There are plenty of things, like that petition, that want to help still. But no updates on this anywhere since September when this article here was posted which some minor updates, like the family's reactions to all the support.
Can anyone else tell me if they can find more? Please and thank you.
(Also, again, there is something very wrong with society.)
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