Too much hugging in school?

[sparkle&shine]

There are people that think there is too much hugging going on.

Too much hugging at school? (http://arizonamoms.com/justformoms/more-kids-hugging-to-say-hello)

In the course of a day at Explorer Middle School in Phoenix, 14-year-old Jerry Worsham hugs 20 or more people, a half- dozen of them even before the first bell rings in the morning. A hug is how today's young teenagers say "hi," replacing the knuckle tap or high-five. It's also how they say "goodbye," "I haven't seen you since algebra 47 minutes ago" and "See ya at lunch." The friendly hug has become the key communication tool among this age group, educators and parents say.
At Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park, Ill., hugging hasn't been banned outright, but the principal has banned "extreme hugging," which entails students - usually girls - exchanging hugs every time they see each other during breaks between classes, clogging the hallways and making kids late for class.

Holding hands and high-fives are banned at Fossil Hills Middle School in the north Texas town of Keller.
Do you think that hugging at school is inappropriate?
In the article it is theorized that maybe they just want more human contact coming from such an electronic era. I think that it's great and I really don't see how it can get so out of hand that it would make kids late for class. Maybe I am missing something though?

[PinkMartini]

Hugging? Seriously? People need something new to worry about :rolleyes:

[msnicolea]

Oh for the love of. . .

[mrschica]

Yeah, the world's biggest problem today are signs of affection.

Geez.

[Adaya]

Oh goodness....

[Ellyn]

Honestly? I'm a teacher at a middle school and hugging is a PITA. Not that I'm against hugging, but it does get out of hand, the kids get a little too wild sometimes. I dunno... An occasional hug is okay IMO, but all the time going on all the time in the halls?

[Delta]

I remember hugging my friends all the time at that age. It's nothing new. Good grief. Sometimes I think schools wants kids to be robots these days.

[imagirliegirl]

Hugging leads to babies! Just say no! :eek:

[GlamaGal]

My cousin's little boy was asked last year (as a kindergarten child) to hug less. Apparently one of the parents had requested this. He's a loving kid, and I never noticed any prolonged or "weird" hugs. Kind of odd to ask a kid that young not to hug.

I think in this day and age, when kids are bringing guns into schools and using them, this is the least of our worries. HS is a time for bonding, making long-term friends, and growth. Hugs are appropriate. Sure, keep the hallways cleared, but hug away.

[scout]

Honestly? I'm a teacher at a middle school and hugging is a PITA Yep. Another middle school teacher here. No hugging in the halls at my school either. Too many complaints of inappropriate touching, too many girls being made uncomfortable, etc.

[imagirliegirl]

Thinking back, we weren't allowed to hug the opposite sex in school. Then again, I always went to private school and let me say it totally worked. No one in my school had sex. Nu uh. /sarcasm

[Niobe]

All touching between minors should be banned. Kids should just walk around in their own personal bubbles, like John Travolta in that movie. :rolleyes:

[Ellyn]

Hugging in our school is not really allowed because it gets out of hand - not sexually but sometimes (usually girls) get a little carried away, get obnoxious and then it causes a problem for others. I'm fine with students hugging if one has a bad day, or as a congrats for something, but I really don't see it necessary for a 12 year old "couple" to be hugging each other in school on a regular basis. Same with hand holding...middle schoolers are still kids (next year our middle school will be 10 - 14 year olds since we'll have 5th grade) and there is a time and place for hugging...I don't always think school is that place.

ETA: Teachers also hug students at our student of the month ceremonies and I have a 6th grade girl that regularly asks for a hug...I usually hug her back because I know she needs one. So I'm not anti hugging ;)

[dionysia]

I remember hugging my friends all the time at that age. It's nothing new. Good grief. Sometimes I think schools wants kids to be robots these days.

This, exactly.

ETA: I'm trying to imagine how non-sexual, consensual hugging could be "excessive." Anyone?

[Eric's Wife]

It's very interesting that I came across this article today. Last week DH (a middle school teacher) was complaining about all of the hugging that goes on at his school.

[Ellyn]

I'm trying to imagine how non-sexual, consensual hugging could be "excessive." Anyone?

Have you walked through a middle school recently? :p Non-sexual, consensual hugging is not excessive. But middle school kids (girls and boys) don't stop at that...it turns into group hugs, being rowdy and getting out of hand, blocking hallways, being obnoxious, etc. And IMO that isn't necessary. It isn't that we want kids to be robots, but school is a place where EVERY single kid should feel comfortable, and if hugging (or hand holding, or whatever else it is) makes someone feel uncomfortable it shouldn't be happening. And I love teaching middle school level, the kids are great, I teach in a great school (one of the top in WI I might add...schools from all over WI come to our school (PBS even made a video about our school) to see our discipline philosophy (restorative justice) and how we run our school :D) Middle school kids are still kids, and hugging is pretty innocent. It isn't the act of hugging, it's how the kids handle the entire situation - some kids are able to just hug and be done, others turn it into an obnoxious situation.... oh, and not all middle school kids are not as innocent anymore (unfortunately) as you probably remember being.

Okay, stepping down...

Did I just write that much on hugging? :o