School Boards weapons policy violated - by deaf preschooler

[Cyberman]

Grand Island Preschooler Asked to Change the Sign for His Name in School

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's "Weapons in Schools" Board Policy 8470 forbids "any instrument...that looks like a weapon," But a three year-old's hands?

I can quite definitely see the need for American schools to have such anti-weapons policies, even if every particle of my cultural heritage and upbringing is screaming in agony at the very idea of kids having access to weapons in the first place. I think someone needs to go back to school and learn the difference between a registered name-sign made with fingers for the purposes of communication and a machine designed to propel copper projectiles into targets, usually living ones for the purpose of making them non-living ones. Fingers are not generally known for doing that.

Traditionally, the British Civil Service (who used to pay my wages for posing as one of their number) has a reputation for being rather stuffy and bound by the infamous red tape. However, there are rules and there are rules, and then there's taking the piss. I'm certain even my former employers would think this school board's ruling was a step too far.

[Darth]

down the bottom of that page, it's the follow up story

http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Sc...84235.html

It's solved =D

Such numptys in that school district, it's the kid's name, the fact that they were asked to change it means that somebody needs to be fired.
And In Auslan at least there are lots of words that use the '7' handshape (gun handshape),
It would be like banning the letter g, the number 7, and sesame street for their endorsement of these violent symbols.

Also, looking at his sign-name, it looks like they've taken the american 'h' and 'r' (cause his name is Hunter, it's quite common to incorporate the first letter of your english name into the sign name, that's most likely why it would be that handshape, I'd be willing to put money on that), and done the thing from the wiggles where they wave their pointed fingers or something. Also, it's the index and middle fingers in the name sign, the thumb isn't raised up, it even doesn't resemble a bloody gun, its just two pointed fingers. People are stupid.

edit, yeah that's where they got the handshapes from, h and r. They have literally tried to ban letters =P

[Cyberman]

Well spotted, that man. I was just wondering who'd be the first to notice that..!
[/Capt. Mainwaring]

Well, at least it seems that public opinion can change the world, even if the school board statement does seem to come across as grudging to say the least (and downright pissy, to say the most).

[Minimalist]

I do keep continually wondering what it is that makes school board and school administration personnel so inherently stupid. It happens everywhere in this fucked up country of ours.

Its as if adults lose the ability to think critically when they become associated with a school.

( P.S. - I am not impressed that the dickheads changed their minds when public opinion and a lawsuit were threatened. That just proves that they are not only stupid bastards but craven stupid bastards.)

[Cyberman]

Ah, but they did it while making it look like there was never a problem anyway, while simultaneously turning the people who protested into the villains. Straight out of the PR handbook.

[Minimalist]

I doubt even the farmers in that town will fall for it.

[KichigaiNeko]

Ah....America.

[Annik]

I'm glad everything worked out because that whole ordeal is just insulting to the Deaf.