CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Virginia mother is exposing a complicated series of hand signals forced on her son’s sixth-grade class that make it clear students are expected to remain seated and silent at all times, unless their teacher allows them to speak.

Kristin Palmer, coordinator of an online learning program at the University of Virginia, is a “mom of 3 boys,” according to her Twitter bio, and she clearly wasn’t impressed with the handout her sixth-grade son came home from school with on Monday.

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“This is why k-12 in USA is broken,” Palmer posted, along with a picture of a classroom handout. “This was given to my son Fox today.”

The handout is titled Hand Signals.

It reads:

We use two types of signals in the classroom: ones that tell me you need something, and ones that help out class discussions.

If you need something:
Once class begins and you are in your assigned seat, you will not leave your seat without permission. If you need something, let me know by the following signals:

  • Hold up your pencil, and I will exchange it for a new one. On the way into class, you can take a sharpened pencil, but be sure to leave it in the used pencil bin on your way out.
  • Hold up two crossed fingers if you need to use the bathroom. This is only for emergencies, and only after the first 15 minutes of class. I will only allow students to use the bathroom one at a time.
  • Hold up one finger if you need a tissue.

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Discussion signals:

  • Hold up your hand in the shape of a C if you have a comment.
  • Hold up three fingers if you have a question.
  • Hold up an open hand if you have an answer to a question.
  • Hold up a fist with your pinky and thumb extended if you have a connection to a previous comment, or if you agree with the speaker.
  • Hold up two fingers to remind your classmates to be silent.

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Folks on Twitter were “appalled,” “stunned,” “speechless,” and “confused” by the complicated rules.

“Is this a school for the deaf?” Dean Shareski questioned.

“Nope, just plain old 6th grade,” Palmer responded.

“I’m speechless,” Janie MacAulay wrote. “This is counter to EVERYTHING we know about teaching. It’s like a set of rules from 1896.”

“I understand the behavior mgmt and some hand signals to minimize disruption but this seemed excessive,” Palmer posted.

“This hand signal is literally making my stomach ache,” sixth-grade teacher Melissa Wantz wrote. “Can you get your son into a different class/school?”

Clint Kelly joked that students should “hold up a middle finger to signal what you think of these signals.”

“So sorry (Kristin Palmer). As a teacher myself, I am appalled and embarrassed by this,” Jess Longthorne wrote. “Where is (the student’s) voice? Positive classroom environment?”

“We enjoy homeschooling,” Eric Gruber added. “We’re growing rebels, not robots.”

“Kids will have to wear a wristband with signals on it like Tom Brady,” Eric Peoples wrote.

“Holy crap,” Andrew Tatusko posted. “Surprised there aren’t signals for ‘happy time’ medication to control the anxiety.”

“Communication as multiple choice,” Bill Fitzgerald commented. “So messed up.”