Punished for a hug??

[Marilyn. 340]

Hug lands Virginia student in hot water

Associated Press

VIENNA, Va. — A show of affection almost landed a teenage boy in detention.

Hugging was 13-year-old 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 let off with a warning, but the cost of a repeat offense could be detention.

A rule against physical contact at Kilmer Middle School, about 10 miles west of Washington, is so strict that students can be sent to the principal's office for hugging, holding hands or even high-fiving.

"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."

Unlike some schools, which ban fighting or inappropriate touching, Kilmer Middle School bans all touching.

But that doesn't seem necessary to Hal and his parents. They've sent a letter asking the county school board to review the rule.

But at a school of 1,100 students that was meant to accommodate 850, school officials think touching can turn into a big deal. They've seen pokes lead to fights, gang signs in the form of handshakes and 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 students are comfortable and that 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.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/4899028.html

[KarenCee 3]

So if a student "touches" another student in their crowded hallways, I wonder what the consequences would be?

Are they taking this a bit too far? IMHO yes.

[Marilyn. 340]

upon further investigation, I found out that he didn't actually get a detention but just a verbal warning not to do it again.. and only repeat customers get detention.....

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/197571

It isn't as if hug police patrol the Kilmer hallways, Hernandez said. Usually an askance look from a teacher or a reminder to move along is enough to stop girls who are holding hands and giggling in a huddle or a boy who pats a buddy on the back. Students won't get busted if they high-five in class after answering a difficult math problem.

Typically, she said, only repeat offenders or those breaking other rules are reprimanded. "You have to have an absolute rule with students, and wiggle room and good judgment on behalf of the staff," Hernandez said.

Hal said that he and his classmates understand when and how it is appropriate to hug or pat someone on the back in school and that most teenagers respect boundaries set by their peers... "I think you should be able to shake hands, high-five and maybe a quick hug," he said. "Making out goes too far."

http://freshlyground.wordpress.com/2007/06...ds-to-yourself/

#

Henri - Hals Dad

June 20th, 2007 at 5:22 am

Hal was not, and probably would not have been, reprimanded for introducing himself to the foreign exchange student with a nice, firm, Old Dominion handshake...

He would have, it is a strict "no physical contact" policy, that is why you had to say "probably". They do in fact patrol the hallway for "high fives", etc.

Girls can not hug girls, etc.

Edited June 23, 2007 by MarilynP

[nyhazmat 2]

And to think...I grew up in a society that you were allowed to hug and hold hands at school, my god, what kind of person have I become. I must have been tarnished by all of that free touching..lol or at least the freedom to grow up. Of course as always, this is just my opinion...

[Dr_LHA 3]

My school banned "PDAs" (Public Displays of Affection), and I honestly think it was a good thing, because if you don't it becomes a slippery slope downwards to frankly anti-social and often lewd behavior, teenagers are not exactly known for their sexual restraint after all. This kid's hug got him a verbal warning, I would have expected no less when I was at school too. There's nothing wrong with promoting school as a place of rules and discipline. If the kid wants to kiss and hug his GF, there's plenty of time to do that outside of school hours.

The school's policy on this is the school's policy, if the kid's parents don't like it they can take him out of school. The worst thing about this is the scummy press picking it up as if it matters at all. There are actual important issues that needs to be dealt with in the world. A school enforcing their rules isn't one of them.

Edited June 23, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[Ladylethal 12]

That reminds me back in my high school (catholic school, and no, I am not catholic) the nuns wanted to stop us from kissing and making out during lunch break so friends were allowed to hug, touch, jump on each on other but boyfriends and girlfriends had to stay appart. I put it to the test when a nun saw my boyfriend with his arm around my shoulders and told us to stand away from each other, with at least one friend in between us.

I said "But hey, she is hugging him" pointing to my friend who had his arms around my other friend.

"They are not dating" said the nun.

So I said "Oh, so I can hug HIM?"

She said "Yeah, sure"

So I went ahead and sat on the lap of a male friend and the nun said it was fine to do if my boyfriend let me do it.

ARGH!

[Nancy2015 2]

It seems very odd to me - when I was in high school, we could hug, kiss and make out in public, and no one could ever imagine that it might be considered inappropriate, let alone, illegal I myself don't like public displays of affection (I wasn't popular in high school ), but banning them goes a little too far, imho.

[crazyinEgypt 0]

PDA is one thing, but comeon! A hug? This country is getting way out of control with punishment for benign behavior.

[L_n_O 3]

This reminds me of that uproar in India recently because two celebrities kissed in public

ridiculous

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No hugs in school? Bullying is well and alive, though.

Whatever the ** ever.

Fcuking uptight ####### around this nation. It's utterly pathetic.

[Ban Hammer 13,656]

No hugs in school? Bullying is well and alive, though.

Whatever the ** ever.

Fcuking uptight ####### around this nation. It's utterly pathetic.

watch it, or you'll go on a hunting trip with the vp

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No hugs in school? Bullying is well and alive, though.

Whatever the ** ever.

Fcuking uptight ####### around this nation. It's utterly pathetic.

watch it, or you'll go on a hunting trip with the vp

I wouldn't risk it. He's a shitty shot.