Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Girl gets detention for hugging - Education - MSNBC.com

Girl gets detention for hugging - Education - MSNBC.com

If every student who I saw while I taught had been given a detention for giving a friend a goodbye hug, they would all still be in detention. Yes, lingering hugs, kissing beyond control, and inappropriate touching should not be going on at school. But if a friend is just giving a quick hug, what is the problem?

The problem is the school has not defined public displays of affection. Taking it to an extreme, if the term is not defined, then if someone would wink at another person - even if there isn't an affectionate meaning to the wink - then the wink becomes a public display of affection. Some times a wink is just a wink, and some times, a hug is simply a hug - a way to let someone know you are thinking about them and wish them well.

A detention? Maybe the school principal needs a hug!

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