No Hugs in School
Recently, for an education class, I read an article about PDA in the classroom. Some schools in the nation have banned not only PDA, but any form of physical touching between students: a handshake is even considered BAD. At first, the idea of reducing PDA from the classroom was a postive thing. I remember the occasional couple making out in the hallways of my middle and high school and to think that this sort of display could be banned is great...but the idea is taking out all interactions seems ridiculous to me. In the article, a girl was suspeneded because her friend hugged her at school. The girl was given a hug because she was upset after the death of one of her family member, and her friend was giving her supprt. The school system said that they cannot make "touching" allowed for certain situations, therefore the child was punished for her grief. I think that the school systems are trying to take humanity out of the classroom which will only have negative affects. What are others ideas on this topic?
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Agreed
I think the school has created more trouble than less by banning any kind of contact. The purpose of schools are to educate children to become responsible adults. I see where sexual contact would be a detriment to this purpose. Also let me say that becoming a responsible adult includes knowing when physical contact is appropriate and when it is not. One should learn to reign in their hormones during school hours. However, by banning physical contact the schools have caused an uproar, making the students lose focus on learning. The schools have self sabotaged themselves and will feel the consequences when the students do poorly on end of year tests (not that I agree with high stakes test, but that is an issue for another blog). If the schools expect the children to be responsible students they should act like responsible adults and compromise with the rules.
Extreme...
Yet more evidence of the inpersonal automation of the education system, much like many other things in today's society. It may not connect directly and may be extreme, but has anyone read the novel 1984?
I for one see human contact a crucial aspect of development. What harm will a hug do, really? Even "making out" is an important part of development, but that's something that can take place outside of school. What a lonely existance it will be when we're not allowed to talk to each other because it disrupts the learning environment. If students aren't allowed to be human in school, how will they ever learn to be human?
In high school and middle school, I had a large base of friends due to band. Everyone loved everyone and hugs were a daily ritual. Now I can attest that this did not lead to anything remotely close to a mass orgy in the bandroom.
The idea of a teacher hugging their students is a bit rocky. But I will say that if it's a man, it probably should not happen. Men as a whole in our society are not seen as caregivers or nurturers, so if a man hugs his student, he either looks like a pedophile, or he is one. Not a good idea, except in the case of extreme grief or trauma. (not that I think all men are bad. I myself am one, but I've seen two cases where male teachers were fired/arrested for sexual relations with students in my four years of high school. It's better avoided.
But really, the idea of this is outrageous. We need to avoid ridiculous things such as this at all cost. We are humans, not robots or zombies.
the six year old sleeze?
Yeah I do think that schools are starting to over react a little. This reminds me of a story I read about a couple of months ago about a kindergartner that got suspended after a teacher's aid complained that he was sexually harassing her. Apparently she felt uncomfortable with the way the student hugged her (she said something about him snuggling hid face in her chest) so she wrote him up for sexual harassment and he got suspended for three days. Can you imagine explaining to the child why he was suspended? I want to reserve judgement on the aid because part of me wonders how an adult could possibly take a hug from a four year old as a sexual pass but then again the other part of me can see how children are growing up so fast nowadays and as much as the majority of people would hate to think so the child may have done it intentionally after seeing it on television or at his home without really realizing that it was something that was not supposed to be done. I do think that suspension was a bit much though.
Attiya A-K
I was very bothered when I
I was very bothered when I read this! It's a HUG since when is that so bad. Now I understand kissing and all that but a hug.... children are grown up with hugs from family and are told to hug when your sorry. At least I was. This was discussed in one of my other classes and my teacher was so upset by it. She said my daughter hugs whoever she comes in contact with.. how can you tell a child not to hug?
I agree with all of you. I
I agree with all of you. I think as human beings we need hugs occasionally. It's a way we show affection and get comfort from each other, it doesn't have to be sexual.
I know I was a huggy person in school. It's just a way to communicate. It's like laughing, crying, and skipping.
It limits the way we express ourselves. Children definately need to be able to express themselves.
this is absurd...
It really angers me sometimes to see the lengths that legislators and administrators will go to in order to enforce absurd rules! What about those important facts about education that need to be enforced. What about all the other rules that need to be evaluated and adjusted. Where were the administrators when really absurd yet detrimental rules were being concocted and passed? Maybe they were too busy giving each other hugs!
Not quite right...
I dont think that it is fair for the school to do that. When I was in school I remember always hugging my friends every morning when I would see them. Contact like that does not always mean it is sexual . I think it is important for students to be able to express their feelings without getting in trouble. I think it is imporant that students who do sexual actions in school should be the ones who are getting suspended. Maybe just warning kids, and making them aware that there are consequences for those types of actions would be a better approcah instead of banning any sort of PDA.
Hugging
I mean really, the school can't make exceptions. HER FAMILY MEMBER DIED. School rules are becoming more and more absurd. I remember hugging my elementary school teachers and now students can even give a hug to help a grieving friend. What is wrong with today's world?
Doesn't even make sense!
I feel like times are getting worse and worse. When I was a student in elementary school, I was infatuated with my 3rd grade assistant, and she would watch me after class and everything. On the playground she would braid us girls’ hair and gives us hugs if we fell or anything of the sort. Now days there would be concern about this type of fraternizing which I think is odd and ridiculous!
How ridiculous
I am with the rest of you. Taking away ALL forms of physical contact is just plain ridiculous. Hugging is a way that people can build security and respect. Children need to be able to express grief and if a child offers comfort through a hug I think that is great. That is how they build friendships, through interaction which include physical connection! Things really have gone too far here. I read (somewhere) that humans need 5 physical touches per day to help you have a healthy life. I think that is true. It feels good to be reminded that people do care about you and a hug is a great way to show it!