The limit of common sense has been exceeded
I heard a news report today about a middle school that has started enforcing a 15-year old policy against touching of any kind in their school. An extension of the "keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourself" rule that many elementary schools follow, this school does not allow any physical contact in order to keep students in order. That means:
No pushing. Now I think that makes sense, pushing can hurt people. That's a pretty good general rule for life.
No shoving. I agree, shoving means that there's always something you get shoved INTO and that usually isn't good. Like, you could get shoved into a locker and that would really only be safe if students were to wear helmets whenever walking from one classroom to another. And I think we all know that schools cannot afford safety helmets for all students.
No hand holding. Personally, I like hand holding. I think it's nice. When I was in middle school I thought it was nice. Limited to hand holding, I don't see the trouble that can cause in school. Unless you're holding hands with someone else's boyfriend, then that obviously could lead to shoving (see above).
No hugging. The next step past hand holding, I guess this could lead to additional issues and would probably mean that other, more descriptive rules would have to be created.
No shaking hands. Shaking hands? Middle school students are shaking hands? Now that's just ridiculous.
It was at this point in the radio conversation that I really started to pay attention to the actual arguments of the participants. The school representative basically stated that this rule was to ensure that students have a safe school environment, and with the "no-touching" rule, there are less fights. When the "expert" on the socialization of children presented her point of view, she said that schools must help students prepare for life, and that touching is part of life. "For example," she said, "Shaking hands is part of normal business interactions. It should be part of the curriculum of every school."
Shaking hands. In the curriculum. I sure hope there's some kind of state standard that can measure that one.
No pushing. Now I think that makes sense, pushing can hurt people. That's a pretty good general rule for life.
No shoving. I agree, shoving means that there's always something you get shoved INTO and that usually isn't good. Like, you could get shoved into a locker and that would really only be safe if students were to wear helmets whenever walking from one classroom to another. And I think we all know that schools cannot afford safety helmets for all students.
No hand holding. Personally, I like hand holding. I think it's nice. When I was in middle school I thought it was nice. Limited to hand holding, I don't see the trouble that can cause in school. Unless you're holding hands with someone else's boyfriend, then that obviously could lead to shoving (see above).
No hugging. The next step past hand holding, I guess this could lead to additional issues and would probably mean that other, more descriptive rules would have to be created.
No shaking hands. Shaking hands? Middle school students are shaking hands? Now that's just ridiculous.
It was at this point in the radio conversation that I really started to pay attention to the actual arguments of the participants. The school representative basically stated that this rule was to ensure that students have a safe school environment, and with the "no-touching" rule, there are less fights. When the "expert" on the socialization of children presented her point of view, she said that schools must help students prepare for life, and that touching is part of life. "For example," she said, "Shaking hands is part of normal business interactions. It should be part of the curriculum of every school."
Shaking hands. In the curriculum. I sure hope there's some kind of state standard that can measure that one.
One more reason I am glad to have grown up in the 50's. It was so much simpler and easy. I think this is just sad...
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I have an idea. Why doesn't the curriculum also include the quick phrase along with the hand shake - "Peace Be with You".
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This is so old news. My Jr. High had a VERY strictly enforced no hugging policy - we even had SIGNS all over the halls that said "Hugging Not Allowed". They were pasted up right next to the "Resist Peer Pressure" signs the Sex Ed teacher plastered all over. Jr. High - no hugging, and no idea what "Peer Pressure" was. I totally thought he had spelled it wrong. But then, I was very naive...
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