Hugging Ban

Though it looks like this day is going to be slightly busier then I expected there are a few things I can write about really quickly just to toss out there:
Kilmer Middle School, in Vienna, VA, has instituted a ban on all physical contact in school between students. A high-5 in the hallway between friends could lead to detention, especially after a warning has been given. Too many hugs with your girlfriend can lead to in school detention if you aren’t careful.

The rule was enacted (I believe) at the beginning of this year as a measure to prevent smaller students being accidentally injured by bigger students and to prevent fights that might occur in the overcrowded school by a misunderstood touch. The rule is also meant to protect those who feel uncomfortable being hugged or touched and are too shy to say anything.

On my flight home, returning to the real world, I saw a Headline News interview (about halfway down the page) with Glenn Beck and the PTA President at Kilmer Middle School. The PTA President, Laurie Baker, ends up looking like a bit of an ignorant fool living somewhere outside of the real world. She just keeps repeating that this ban is common sense and practical, but never really defines how. Beck points out to her at multiple points how idiotic a touching ban is: (the interview, after the jump)

BECK: This is the argument that I have with Al Sharpton. He comes after the rap and says, “Oh, this rap music is horrible. I got to go after the record companies.”

No, you don`t. You go after the parents and say: “Parents, tell your kids not to listen to it and control your kids.”

If you`ve got kids that are inappropriately touching, you don`t have a problem with touching in your school. You have a problem with parents in your school, do you not?

BAKER: Well, but your kids are there for seven hours a day. The interactions are happening. You want them to be positive for the kids during the day. You don`t want some little girl to be upset during the day and having her day ruined.

BECK: Wait, wait, wait.

BAKER: This is preventative.

BECK: Laurie, that little girl is eventually going to go out into the real world, and you know, big bad principal is not going to be there to help her. Nobody is going to be there. So aren`t you actually hurting the child?

I don`t mean to be rude here. I just — I`m trying to figure out how you could possibly be for this? We are helping cripple our children by not letting them have bad experiences.

If somebody is inappropriately groping a child, you don`t need a no touching ban for that. But high-fiving?

Now I am in total agreement with Beck. Seriously? A touching ban? What’s next, no eye contact? No talking to each other? You know, words can hurt. Though, my favorite quote from the interview is this one:

BECK: Are we talking about all hugging or, you know, active hugging?

I realize the picture isn’t really related, but when I did an image search for “No Touching” that is what I got and figured it worked well enough