D. Armenta
PlagmanSchools Institute Ban on Touching: Teenage Boys Mortified
A middle school in Fairfax County, Virginia, has prohibited any type of physical contact between students, although it is still okay for them with teachers, so long as it occurs at a private residence during non-school hours. (Reported by the Associated Press; all quotes are 100% ver batim)
The rule is so strict that students can be sent to the principal’s office for hugging, holding hands, the reverse cowgirl, or even high-fiving. Other schools in the area have already gone so far as to ban fighting or inappropriate touching, much to the dismay of street soldas and pubescent middle-schoolers, respectively. But it is the ban on all touching that has parents dismayed.
Hal Beaulieu, whose last name has a vowel-to-consonant ratio of 3:1, was given a warning for putting his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder at lunch. What normally would have only warranted a demerit, Hal was told that repeated infractions could lead to detention, and that if he were caught rounding second he could risk being suspended.
“I think hugging is a good thing,” said Hal, who is in 7th grade, “I put my arm around her. It was like for 15 seconds. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.” As the first student in 26 years to risk putting his arm around a girl on school grounds, Hal instantly became Big Man on Campus.
The school, however, faces a difficult situation. With 1,100 students crammed into a building that was meant to accommodate 850, some officials believe that some touching can turn into a big deal. And given the number of minorities enrolled, their fears are not exactly unwarranted. In some instances, pokes have lead to fights, gang signs are given in the form of handshakes, and some girls are uncomfortable being hugged but too embarrassed or polite to say anything, but not too embarrassed to dress like Christina Aguilera.
“You get into shades of gray. The kids say, ‘if he can high-five, then I can do this’,” said Kilmer Principal Deborah Hernandez, referring to flashing the cheerleading squad.
Hernandez went on to describe the reasoning behind the no-touching rule, saying it was designed to ensure that each and every student was comfortable, and that the crowded hallways and lunchrooms stay safe. She added that school officials are allowed to use their own judgment when enforcing the rule, thus permitting the other 99% of the staff to completely ignore it. In general, only repeat “touching offenders” are reprimanded, after which they are added to the “repeat touching offender” list.
To Hal and his parents, the strict policy seems outrageous, and like other members of the community, they are shocked that the PC police had infiltrated the public school system.
“I think you should be able to shake hands, high-five, and maybe a quick hug,” said Hal, who said he feels he knows what’s appropriate and what’s not, “making out goes too far.”
Hal’s parents, who encourage hugging at home and have taught their son to greet people with a handshake, agree that teenagers need to have clear limits, but, given how afraid of physical contact middle-school males are in the first place, they don’t want their son to be taught that physical contact is bad, especially since it can be very, very, good.
The rule is so strict that students can be sent to the principal’s office for hugging, holding hands, the reverse cowgirl, or even high-fiving. Other schools in the area have already gone so far as to ban fighting or inappropriate touching, much to the dismay of street soldas and pubescent middle-schoolers, respectively. But it is the ban on all touching that has parents dismayed.
Hal Beaulieu, whose last name has a vowel-to-consonant ratio of 3:1, was given a warning for putting his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder at lunch. What normally would have only warranted a demerit, Hal was told that repeated infractions could lead to detention, and that if he were caught rounding second he could risk being suspended.
“I think hugging is a good thing,” said Hal, who is in 7th grade, “I put my arm around her. It was like for 15 seconds. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.” As the first student in 26 years to risk putting his arm around a girl on school grounds, Hal instantly became Big Man on Campus.
The school, however, faces a difficult situation. With 1,100 students crammed into a building that was meant to accommodate 850, some officials believe that some touching can turn into a big deal. And given the number of minorities enrolled, their fears are not exactly unwarranted. In some instances, pokes have lead to fights, gang signs are given in the form of handshakes, and some girls are uncomfortable being hugged but too embarrassed or polite to say anything, but not too embarrassed to dress like Christina Aguilera.
“You get into shades of gray. The kids say, ‘if he can high-five, then I can do this’,” said Kilmer Principal Deborah Hernandez, referring to flashing the cheerleading squad.
Hernandez went on to describe the reasoning behind the no-touching rule, saying it was designed to ensure that each and every student was comfortable, and that the crowded hallways and lunchrooms stay safe. She added that school officials are allowed to use their own judgment when enforcing the rule, thus permitting the other 99% of the staff to completely ignore it. In general, only repeat “touching offenders” are reprimanded, after which they are added to the “repeat touching offender” list.
To Hal and his parents, the strict policy seems outrageous, and like other members of the community, they are shocked that the PC police had infiltrated the public school system.
“I think you should be able to shake hands, high-five, and maybe a quick hug,” said Hal, who said he feels he knows what’s appropriate and what’s not, “making out goes too far.”
Hal’s parents, who encourage hugging at home and have taught their son to greet people with a handshake, agree that teenagers need to have clear limits, but, given how afraid of physical contact middle-school males are in the first place, they don’t want their son to be taught that physical contact is bad, especially since it can be very, very, good.
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