Seriously? He's a three year old boy, not a terrorist. He's hearing impaired and this is his form of communication. I see nothing offensive or frightening about it. What a silly, silly world we live in at times.
He's like every other child on the school playground. He runs, he climbs the monkey bars, he laughs and kicks the soccer ball. The only thing that sets three year old Hunter apart from his classmates is that he can't hear. Rather than speak his name, he signs it. Not a problem - right? Well apparently it is. Little Hunter's school has told his family he needs to change the way he signs his name because his hand gestures "may" look like guns. What?!?
Reportedly, Hunter "signs" or hand gestures his name by crossing his index finger and middle finger and then wagging his hands. The school deems this as inappropriate. School policy forbids any "instrument" that "looks like a weapon." We're talking about the hand of a three year old. How could that possibly be mistaken for a weapon?
Remember the days of playing "Cowboys and Indians?" There would be no question that this is no longer appropriate or "politically correct," but hands played the part of guns then. It was just harmless child's play. This situation isn't even intended as play, it's a little boy's means of communication.
And correctly pointed out, Howard Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf, says, "A name sign is the equivalent of a person's name, and to prohibit a name sign is to prohibit a person's name."
Has this school got nothing better to police than a simple hand gesture?
The family is apparently trying to have the ruling changed, legal action may even be in the picture. While one would hope it wouldn't have to come to that point, I'm on the side of the family.
As one opinion offered on this topic says, "This is a good example of insecure people making a mountain out of a mole hill, and it sets a horrible example for children.... Some people need to get a better perspective on reality and put this into proper context."
Rules are in place for good reasons but there are - or there should be - exceptions to every rule. If ever there was a case where an exception should apply, this should be it.
