School's No Touching Policy

[GeorgeSteele]

School enforces strict no-touching rule

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

The Associated Press
Updated: 6:40 p.m. ET June 18, 2007

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."


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19293872/?GT1=10056

[GNRreunioneventually]

thats the dumbest rule i've ever seen in a school Right next to smoking



bastards............

[Communist China]

I think that the people that made and enforce these types of rules need a hug.

[RJ1221]

thank god i didnt go there, i slapped girls asses at school all the time.........

[Axl4Prez2004]

How crazy is that story?  It's just nuts.  But, schools are desperate and grasping at straws. 

I've said it before, I'll say it again.  We need different schools for different kids.  There are kids who don't want to learn.  They need alternative schools.  They are usually the products (but not always) of terrible parenting.  It all starts in the home...and many homes today are terrible places for kids.   

[Bill 213]

How crazy is that story?? It's just nuts.? But, schools are desperate and grasping at straws.?

I've said it before, I'll say it again.? We need different schools for different kids.? There are kids who don't want to learn.? They need alternative schools.? They are usually the products (but not always) of terrible parenting.? It all starts in the home...and many homes today are terrible places for kids.? ?

I agree, but then you have another group of people that say, "but all kids should have a fair opportunity to a great education, if they want it or not."  I was in the honor classes through high school for English, Calculus and Chemistry, but the classes I did that involved trouble makers really put a damper on the whole thing.  You had a section of kids always trying to screw with the teacher and distract them from actually teaching.  We had an alternative school in our school district and it was basically one step below jail.  It was kept away from the other schools and actually had a fence around it  . No kidding.  But those kids there basically just showed up and if they didn't physically assault another kid or commit a felony then they were given an A.

[The Dog]

im sure there are good kids at this school though and they are being penalized b.c of the bad apples.  any kids who are doing inappropriate touching (with the girls) or flashing gang signs should be tossed.

this rule is insane.  and people are in shock of some of the middle eastern laws we've seen in the news lately!?!?!?

[Krispy Kreme]

It just goes  to show:
a. how stupid  America has become
b. how the excesses of a  few  spoil life the many
c. how  the threat  of a lawsuit (I am sure there  is a  litigious parent lurking somewhere in the background) has ruined American life.

How sad.

[The Dog]

It just goes  to show:
a. how stupid  America has become
b. how the excesses of a  few  spoil life the many
c. how  the threat  of a lawsuit (I am sure there  is a  litigious parent lurking somewhere in the background) has ruined American life.

How sad.

well, lets not beat up the whole country for one dumb school.  these stories tend to make headlines b/c they are so stupid, the schools that are normal don't (and there are thousands more of them then there are no-touch schools).

this rule will be removed in a week....

[Axl4Prez2004]

How crazy is that story?  It's just nuts.  But, schools are desperate and grasping at straws. 

I've said it before, I'll say it again.  We need different schools for different kids.  There are kids who don't want to learn.  They need alternative schools.  They are usually the products (but not always) of terrible parenting.  It all starts in the home...and many homes today are terrible places for kids.   

I agree, but then you have another group of people that say, "but all kids should have a fair opportunity to a great education, if they want it or not."  I was in the honor classes through high school for English, Calculus and Chemistry, but the classes I did that involved trouble makers really put a damper on the whole thing.  You had a section of kids always trying to screw with the teacher and distract them from actually teaching.  We had an alternative school in our school district and it was basically one step below jail.  It was kept away from the other schools and actually had a fence around it  . No kidding.  But those kids there basically just showed up and if they didn't physically assault another kid or commit a felony then they were given an A.

Same here Bill213.5.  If I didn't have the comfort of Honors classes back in high school I'd have been killed.  Seriously, in my school I had to avoid certain areas, and get to my classes very early to avoid the crap.

Fair opportunity to a great education all hinges on whether or not the kid can conduct his or herself in an appropriate manner.  I was a substitute teacher for a year and a half and I found it very depressing.  I don't know how teachers put up with all the shit they have to put up with.  Whether it be from a weak administration not backing them up when the teachers want to be firm with out of control kids, the
parents complaining about too much homework (wouldn't want kids learning the value of hard work would we? geez), or improperly raised children, it's all insanity.

Oh yeah, before I forget, the a-hole school systems that will literally slow down the progress of intelligent children so they can have the dumb ones "catch up," sickens me.  I'd have 25% of the class done with the test in 5 minutes while the trouble-making 25% threw off the middle 50%, requiring them to take 30 minutes to finish the test.  What a joke. 

All of the above highlights why I'm not your typical Democrat.  I think vouchers and competition would be a good kick in the ass to our public school system. 

[The Dog]

i think the biggest joke is teachers getting tenure after 3 years (thats how it is in NY at least, not sure about rest of the country, i think its the same, no?).  after 3 years of hard work its almost impossible to get fired - you can be the shittiest teacher alive and there isn't much anyone can do.  f'ing joke.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Yup, it's a crying shame.  I'm torn because I want teachers compensated for the tremendously difficult job they have...yet as you noted I'm painfully aware of how strong the teachers' union has become, and how this has a negative impact in ways.

It's comparable to the NFL and MLB and NBA players' unions.  They've gotten so strong they are creating incredible problems in the sports themselves.  There are no easy answers. 

[GNRreunioneventually]

thank god i didnt go there, i slapped girls asses at school all the time.........

hell at my school we give them titty twisters we don't discriminate

[crow316]

This reminds me of my old High school about 15 years ago.  They made  a rule that you couldnt look at anyone for more than 5 seconds because of sexual herassment.

[SLCPUNK]

Ironically Mrs. Punk put forth a similar policy after the first 18 months of marriage.

[D]

^



Was I the only person in High School that got a long with everyone?

Half my friends were good kids, the other half were bad, drug addicted criminals.


I think kids need to be exposed to all sorts of different people. Its not good to shelter kids.

I think Schools are overreacting and are trying to stop kids from being kids.

[polluxlm]

Welcome to the machine.

[Axl4Prez2004]

^



Was I the only person in High School that got a long with everyone?

Half my friends were good kids, the other half were bad, drug addicted criminals.


I think kids need to be exposed to all sorts of different people. Its not good to shelter kids.

I think Schools are overreacting and are trying to stop kids from being kids.

D, I don't know how big your school was, but I went to a school with senior class size varied in my 4 years from between 600 and 1000 kids in each class.  The giant school size didn't allow you to possibly know every person in school, much less be liked by them.     In fact, I'd imagine a lot of schools were like mine in that they became very cliquey.  It was basically broken down into nerds, jocks, dirtbags, druggy sluts, preppies, and what I would consider norms.  I was a nerd-jock hybrid myself which was unique as most of my teammates were as dumb as a box of rocks.  There was always acceptance in nerd circles, but the jocks weren't so nice.  If you were smart and applied yourself, you were a nerd, case closed.

Are schools overreacting...clearly this school is.  But, there clearly is a problem in this country with irresponsible people producing irresponsible children.  My solution?  Sterilize  the teens who keep getting pregnant over and over.  Stop the cycle of stupidity.  Yeah, extreme, but damn I'd love to see how it would work over a half a century.     

[von]

In times like these, there's only one sure thing we can turn to. Revenge.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SkzAJs7NutM

[stolat]

By not letting the kiddies touch eachother now, it will only produce fucked up adults who will feel the need to do a lot of inappropriate touching......