Just Say No... to Hugs?

ExurbanLeague.com ^ | Feb. 29, 2008 | Exurban Jon

[inkling]

Sweet smoking Judas, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Mesa Public Schools has instituted a No Hugging Policy?

A group of Shepherd Junior High School students in east Mesa protested a new school policy banning student hugs with a giant group hug on Friday.

Students waited until school was dismissed before gathering across the street from the campus to begin hugging each other and then chanting, "We want hugs."

Some kids sat on the shoulders of their friends during the display.

The public display of affection and chanting came at 3:45 p.m. and lasted about 20 minutes.

Neither principal Eileen Cahoon nor Kathy Bareiss, spokeswoman for Mesa Public Schools, immediately returned calls seeking comment about the new anti-hugging policy and student reaction to it.

The new rule was announced Wednesday.

One student, 14-year-old Chelsea Burnham, said she had to serve an hour detention Thursday after the new rule for hugging a friend. She also was forced to read the school's new "public display of affection" policy.

Detention for hugging?! Words fail me. If they don't change this, someone better be out of a job.

[inkling]

First they made schools Gun-Free Zones... now they're going to be Hug-Free Zones? PC, zero-tolerance madness.

[socialismisinsidious]

But they’ll pass out condoms and begin sex ed in Kindergarten! Hypocirsy at its finest. This is what you get when government is in charge of stuff it has no business being in charge of. Can’t wait until they take over health care. /s

[Antonello]

First they made schools Gun-Free Zones... now they're going to be Hug-Free Zones? PC, zero-tolerance madness.

From the article:

Before the protest, a group of students met with the principal to learn what was considered acceptable public displays of affection and what wasn't.

The list of acceptable public displays are:

• Stopping and talking in the halls (but moving to the side to allow others to pass).

• Shaking a friend's hand and patting him on the back in a "man hug"

• Draping an arm around someone's shoulder in a "hook hug"

• Holding hands

• Linking arms

• Hugging no longer than 2 seconds

• Respecting other people's opinions and values

So to you, not allowing the students to grope each other in the halls for more than 2 seconds at a time is zero tolerance madness?

[Antonello]

But they’ll pass out condoms and begin sex ed in Kindergarten! Hypocirsy at its finest. This is what you get when government is in charge of stuff it has no business being in charge of. Can’t wait until they take over health care. /s

I dare you to cite a single case where this school, or any school in Mesa, handed out so much as one condom to anyone, ever.

[donna]

Hugging is sexual harassment.

[FUMETTI]

When I was a teenager I would have been expelled in this Mesa school for hugging my girlfriend the way I did back in the good old 80s. LOL

[donna]

When I was a teenager in the Mesa schools, couples were not allowed to hold hands. Bodies never touched, not even while slow dancing at a school dance.

[Mad Dawgg]

"So to you, not allowing the students to grope each other in the halls for more than 2 seconds at a time is zero tolerance madness?"

Sorry when I hug I hug for 2.76 seconds. the 2 second limit is just not acceptable.

And my next question are all teachers and hall monitors issued a stop watch to time the hugs?

[Xenophon450]

2.76 seconds??? ARE YOU MAD??? ;-)

[F-117A]

When I was a teenager in the Mesa schools, couples were not allowed to hold hands. Bodies never touched, not even while slow dancing at a school dance.

[Snardius]

When hugs are outlawed, only outlaws will get hugs...

[donna]

The teenage transvestites want to hug everyone all the time. It’s a fire hazard.

[Mad Dawgg]

"ARE YOU MAD??? ;-)"

Yes, but I prefer Dawgg as a one word moniker. ;-)

[Mad Dawgg]

"The teenage transvestites want to hug everyone all the time. It’s a fire hazard."

Why? Are tranies prone to spontaneous combustion?

[donna]

You can’t imagine how exciting a touch can be when it is special.

[donna]

Lice epidemics, ick.

[donna]

Would you hug one?

[F-117A]

You can’t imagine how exciting a touch can be when it is special.

Not only can I imagine, but I know!

[Mad Dawgg]

"Would you hug one?"

Many factors need be considered in such a case not the least of which is the spontaneous combustion issue.

[Antonello]

Sorry when I hug I hug for 2.76 seconds. the 2 second limit is just not acceptable.

Okay, for the purposes of discussion, how long is too long in a junior high school hallway? Or do you feel it would be damaging to the students' self esteem to not allow them to do whatever they want for as long as they want?

I'm sorry, but a lingering hug is not a greeting, it is foreplay. Get a room.