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US: Hugging outlawed. What's next?

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Eric

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School penalizes students for hugs, high-fives

Strict no-contact rule, meant to stem violence, has some pushing for change

VIENNA, Va. - A rule against physical contact at a Fairfax County middle school is so strict that students can be sent to the principal's office for hugging, holding hands or even high-fiving.

Unlike some schools in the Washington area, which ban fighting or inappropriate touching, Kilmer Middle School in Vienna bans all touching — and that has some parents lobbying for a change.

Hugging was Hal Beaulieu's crime when he sat next to his girlfriend at lunch a few months ago and put his arm around her shoulder. He was given a warning, but told that repeat missteps could lead to detention.

"I think hugging is a good thing," said Hal, a seventh-grader. "I put my arm around her. It was like for 15 seconds. I didn't think it would be a big deal."

But at a school of 1,100 students that was meant to accommodate 850, school officials think some touching can turn into a big deal. They've seen pokes lead to fights, gang signs in the form of handshakes or girls who are uncomfortable being hugged but embarrassed to say anything.

"You get into shades of gray," Kilmer Principal Deborah Hernandez said. "The kids say, 'If he can high-five, then I can do this.' "

Hernandez said the no-touching rule is meant to ensure that all students are comfortable and crowded hallways and lunchrooms stay safe. She said school officials are allowed to use their judgment in enforcing the rule. Typically, only repeat offenders are reprimanded.

'Making out goes too far'
But such a strict policy doesn't seem necessary to 13-year-old Hal and his parents, who have written a letter to the county school board asking for a review of the rule. Hugging is encouraged in their home, and their son has been taught to greet someone with a handshake.

Hal said he feels he knows what's appropriate and what's not.

"I think you should be able to shake hands, high-five and maybe a quick hug," he said. "Making out goes too far."

His parents said they agree that teenagers need to have clear limits but don't want their son to be taught that physical contact is bad.

"How do kids learn what's right and what's wrong?" Henri Beaulieu asked. "They are all smart kids, and they can draw lines. If they cross them, they can get in trouble. But I don't think it would happen too often."
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I blame the lame Zero Tolerance Act..Pathetic and egregiously unfair

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19293872/
 
Thats pretty sad. Our school almost enforces that but not that strict.. only in trouble for PDA like kissing and inappropriate touching
 
Hahah, I would be suspended like every other day.

Everyone hugs each other at my school. The guys greet each other by punching each other, girls hug, couples all hold hands, everyone gives high fives, etc... Lots of unnecessary making out does go on though, lol.

But that's seriously one of the stupidest rules ever. I understand where they're coming from, and what they're trying to prevent, but they took it way too far and it's just going to make things worse, I think.
 
Meh, I just hate the whole idea. The utilitarian policy assumption is that inflexibility is a deterrent because, no matter how or why the rule was broken, the fact that the rule was broken is the basis for the imposition of the penalty. They think its a behavior modification strategy :s I think especially the enforcement of little children (1st grade) is nothing short of pathetic.
 
That's a bit fucked up if you ask me. At my school the even the teachers hug everyone. I don't think we can hold hands or anything, but hand-shakes and high fives are ok. That rule just goes too far.
 
we have a 30 cm rule at our school between Males and Females
It Stinks A whell What the teachers don't know wont hurt them
 
I think their just jealous cuz they never got any action/had friends/ was in a gang
 
So when do we start the Anti-Sex League and the Thought Police and turn the world into a place like in 1984?

HAIL BIG BROTHER!!!
HAIL BIG BROTHER!!!
HAIL COMRADES!!!
 
Steph said:
Hahah, I would be suspended like every other day.

Everyone hugs each other at my school. The guys greet each other by punching each other, girls hug, couples all hold hands, everyone gives high fives, etc... Lots of unnecessary making out does go on though, lol.

But that's seriously one of the stupidest rules ever. I understand where they're coming from, and what they're trying to prevent, but they took it way too far and it's just going to make things worse, I think.
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Same at my school.
 
Vienna is around 20 minutes from where i live, thats weird. That rule is crazy, i would leave that school if i went there.
 
I like the rule, personally. For many reasons, but I doubt anyone cares... so no need to elaborate.
But it seems like a completely unnecessary rule.
 
Yeah alot of schools seam to be doing shit like this now and could someone explain a reason behind this cause I still can't find a good one that makes sence or isnt something unlikely to happen.
 
At my school your not allowed to kiss hold hands etc, girls arent even allowed to walk round with linked arms, strange if u ask me, do teachers want us growing up like lifless robots or sometihng?. maybe people make rules like dat becoz dey werent loved enough as a child, or havent kissed some1 of the opposite sex before or something. beats me, either way i tihnk peeps should have the freedom to hug,kiss, hold hands etc, no matter where they are, aslong as it aint to overborad.
 
damien0124 said:
and that is one of the reasons why I think America is a stupid country!
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FYI, America is the only country with freedom of speech, if u said this in France, there goes ur head.
 
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