Now, this is getting pathetic:
ADELAIDE, Australia – An Australian elementary school has banned hugging and other displays of affection between preteen boys and girls to set a good example for younger students, the principal said Tuesday.
Students at Largs Bay Primary School in the southern city of Adelaide were spoken to about “inappropriate behavior” between boyfriends and girlfriends when the new school term opened last week, said Principal Julie Gale.
“We set strong standards of behavior for our Year 6 and 7 students, who are seen as role models by our younger students,” Gale said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, referring to the school’s oldest students, ages 11 to 13.
She said hugging between friends was not banned “but we do discourage displays of affection in the school yard among students … who have a boyfriend or girlfriend at the school.”
The hugging ban mirrors restrictions by some U.S. schools that have also outlawed hugs, kisses and physical horseplay in an attempt to prevent groping or injury and maintain the seriousness of the environment.
The Largs Bay ban came to public attention after some parents contacted the local newspaper to complain that the policy was too strict. Gale said she had not been approached by any parents about the policy.
The punishment for breaking the hug ban was not clear.
Dumb.
It may be dumb, but I can completely understand why schools are doing this, especially in the US. Just a few years ago there were hysterical reports of kids having sex in the lunch rooms, and schools were under attack for not doing enough to stop it.
Plus, anytime a kid farts in class, there are 16 parents filing lawsuits about their precious dears being exposed to a harmful environment. Hugging and kissing? Schools letting children do that in 5th grade is why my precious daughter is pregnant now.
What can schools do? We want them to use some common sense, but if they do the district gets hit with another lawsuit.
Might seem priggish, but I tell you, 6 – 7 graders can put on displays not suited to their age, and the younger kids don’t need to see that. I’ve seen it in parking lots and on benches in shopping malls. Hugging and kissing in schools? A big fat NO from me.