There is a truly bizarre story about of Nebraska where the parents of three-and-a-half year old Hunter Spanjer have been told that their son is violating the school’s policy against guns in school by making his fingers look like a gun. I have previously written (and here) about the lunacy of zero tolerance rules, including the gun drawing and finger gun violations. The difference in this case is that Hunter is deaf and the motion is the sign language for his name which involves crossing his forefinger and index finger and moving his hand up and down. When the situation was explained to Grand Island Public Schools administrators, they came up with a solution that only a bureaucrat would view as reasonable. According to the parents, they were asked to change their son’s sign name. There is now a Facebook page (shown here) to let Hunter keep his name.
If true, this sets a new low in the blind and senseless application of these rules. I still remain amazed by the discipline meted out to kids using finger guns or drawing figures. However, the level of irrationality in this allegation is simply breathtaking.
Administrators in this area seem to relish the absolute application of these rules as if zero tolerance means zero thought. The assumption appears to be that “I cannot get into trouble by being too strict.” The wonderful thing about a policy described as “zero tolerance” is that it can excuse teachers from having to make logical judgments. For anyone to even suggest changing this boy’s signed name shows a complete disinterest in actual facts and equities of the case. Once again, it teaches our students to accept senseless and arbitrary authority — a dangerous lesson for future citizens.
Source: Yahoo
Darren,
Clan Skene is one of the oldest of the Scottish Highland clans. Skeen/Skene (Sgian in Gaelic) means “knife.” I guess those who actually carry the hereditary Clan name would be in trouble as well.
We can’t even talk about members of Clan Gunn at a public school, I suppose. Their Clan motto is, Aut Pax Aut Bellum. Translated, the motto means, “Stand ready for peace or war.”
Justice Holmes, that is a stupid statement. Schools have zero tolerance for anything… Including, as this article shows, “finger guns” that look nothing like guns.
Asinine
So what would happen if a foreign exchange student arrived and had a name such as Gunnar (Sweden) Gundar (Denmark) or GĂĽnther (Germany)? This name means Fighter, Soldier or Attacker. Should he be foreced to change his name also? According to the school’s rules the answer is yes.
Probably equally concerning to these officials would be a student named “Hartmut” which means literally Hard Courage / Pride . They would certainly perceive him to be a threat. He might actually stand up against them. The horror.
These Nebraska school officials remind me of my favorite Pogoism, “We have met the enemy and they is us”.
By the way, school boards set these inane policies and force officials to administer them. If we can blame the officials for lack of common sense in enforcement of the policies, can’t we also castigate the elected or appointed yahoos who dream this stuff up? Democracy isn’t perfect as we all know.
The stupid, it burns. Over in North Carolina, a first grade boy was expelled and charged with sexual harassment for giving a little girl a kiss on the cheek. The girl did not complain; it was the teacher who saw the incident. When that story hit the intetoobz, the school and legal authorities were forced to backtrack.
Then there was the grade schooler whose mother had included a plastic picnic knife in his lunchbox so he could spread his peanut butter and jelly. The same kind of “knife” we put on the food trays of the inmates at the prison where I used to consult. The kid was expelled from the public school system permanently for “bringing a knife to school.”
Zero tolerance seems to translate to zero common sense.
There might be some codgers on this blog who might have lived in Saint Louis fifty years ago who might recall the Herbie story. It is insightful for what could be done to change the kid’s name here to satisfy the school and at the same time satisfy the kids and parents who hate the teachers, Principal (none dare call him a Pal), the Superintendent and the Board of Education.
There was a local TV kid show called Howdy Doody. They showed cartoons and had these live characters like Clarabelle the Clown and they had a group of school kids on set for each live show. No taping so no editing in those days. The kids would each get ten seconds of fame. It would go like this: Clarabelle: “Bobby”. And Bobby would say the same thing. “Hi, mom, hi dad, hi everybody.” One day this kid is in about third in line and it goes like this: “Hi mom, hi dad, hi everybody. And this is for you HERBIE!” And with that he holds up the middle finger. The Bird. Well, from then on out in Saint Louis the middle finger flash was The Herbie and the term Flipped Him The Herbie meant flippin the bird, which meant by implication saying F You.
Anyone on the blog recall this?
So, the kids in this school can nickname this kid Herbie. When Herbie signs in to class in sign language he can flip them the middle finger. No name, no blame. Oh, “no name, no blame” is another Saint Louis story having to do with KATZ Radio on the blues show live show.
Everyone who sees the Principal on the street can convey a message by simple sign language. The Bird is the Word folks. Oh, there is a song by that name from around 1963.
“The difference in this case is that Hunter is deaf and the motion is the sign language for his name which involves crossing his forefinger and index finger and moving his hand up and down.”
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Seems to me the Nebraska school’s complaint is with sign language itself. Their complaint is properly made where sign language is taught. Which is, of course, another school. So why should this child suffer from inter-school squabbling? Well it’s the heartland isn’t it? Home of American compassion?
Why don’t they just demand that he listen….. And speak like the rest of his classmates….. That’ll teach those pushy parents…..
Doesn’t the school system have a problem on several levels.
As a point of philosophy, shouldn’t every child have an expectation that his or her name will be respected even if that name sounds funny or makes many of the rest of us feel uncomfortable?
Some school systems have regulations recognizing diversity. This case would seem to fit right into paradigm that all children deserve respect.
But perhaps most compelling is the requirement that schools systems make reasonable accommodation for disabilities.
I think this school system may have some real problems.
School offials need to change their own name to inept BUTTHOLE!!!!
Professor: “When the situation was explained to Grand Island Pubic Schools administrators,”
*****
“PUBIC” school? LOL, that may be the Freudian slip that wins the Internets today! And yes, they are acting like dic*s. 🙂
I don’t think crossed fingers looks like a gun:
3 Year Old Violates School Weapons Policy with Name Sign
This has to be the stupidest decision by any school administrators! Gene is correct that the officials should be fired.
If you are confused by zero tolerance policies just remember this simple rule: zero tolerance equals zero intelligence.
Should you trust your child to a school administrator who cannot tell the difference between aspirin and crack, between heroin and head ache powder. Of course not. These administrators really have to be removed for the safety of the children.
I would like to be the first to demand legislation that would stipulate that zero tolerance policies are compelling evidence of professional incompetence.
Lets get these people away from our children – the sooner the better!
Sheeze! Some officials take this big brother crap way too far. The person who tried to dictate this to the child & his parents should be fired on the spot. His/her paranoia should not be allowed in any school. good grief! These people are ‘battschitt’ crazy.
The school officials should be fired for being as dumb as Hell.
Oh wait, that’s the other story, isn’t it?
Or is it?
school officials should mind their damn business
Zero tolerance for finger guns but no holds barred for real guns with mega magazines!
Is his name Top Gun?
Gonna be on a watch list … I wonder how the TSA gropes in sign language?
The school officials could have simply asked Hunter to spell his name.