The elementary school across the street from our house in Hawaii had the same policy. I was appalled! And am so happy that my son's school here doesn't.
This is where we need some civil disobedience. Perhaps a hand-shake-in is required?
Then the students involved can sue the school for civil rights abuses and include the story in their college applications.
Imagine if the two students were of different races. "During middle school our principal expelled me for shaking hands with someone of a different race. This experience opened my eyes..."
What's truly appalling is that this would also ban any contact between students and teachers. I frequently sub in middle school grades, and the kids are always giving me hugs or high-fives. (I've known some of them since they were in kindergarten.)
Obviously, kids can be hurt by accidental physical contact or by intentional contact meant to harm. But banning all physical contact is absurd: what, no games of tag? How can you tag someone out during a kickball game? How can you guard or block someone while playing basketball?
The principal sounds like she's in over her head and doesn't know what else to do. This kind of desperation move doesn't reflect well on her at all. Parents should challenge the policy and insist that miscreants are punished, not the entire student body.
Joan : The principal sounds like she's in over her head and doesn't know what else to do.
What if someone wrote something inappropriate, would they ban all writing? Grade school is supposed to teach children, among other things, acceptable behavior. This principal is shirking their job, through incompetence or a hatred of students.
Either way, all the children are now being taught inappropriate behavior. If you think the principal is acting strangely, think of what these kids will end up doing in their adult years. Will they be developmentally retarded in some way? Having problems forming emotional attachments and acting out in strange ways? I'm sure many wont be affected, but some are bound to be.
I have the feeling the bullies were exploiting a loophole in the previous policy. After all, a kick in the groin is not exactly a hug. A "no touching" policy eliminates any principal's office lawyering.
Oh, but they're educators (pronounced ed.dew.kators) donch'a know? They know what's best.
Same mind set as making it illegal for anyone to own a gun. Then no one will use one, right? Friggin' idiots.
Laws don't stop incidents and were never meant to. Only morons think words on paper have that magical ability. And this excess is where that idiot thinking always leads... Sala bim, sala bam, no one will ever be hurt again!
This article made me think of two things: First, I got home last week and started watching Judge Judy as I was cooking dinner. One of the cases had to do with kid "sack tapping" another kid. Apparently it was a fun new game that had been spreading throughout the school where one boy "taps" another boy's balls. This fun game resulted in the kid whose family was suing taking a trip to the hospital and major medical expenses. Second, last year there were these groups of crazy people outside of the university I am at, giving people "free hugs". Both of these things make me think that the Principal was absolutely right in outlawing touching. We don't want the kids hurting someone playing stupid games, or, worse, turning into hippies.
I'm so glad my children are out of school, but now I have my grandchildren to worry about and I'm pushing for homeschooling, or at least private school.
This is sabotage by the school Administrators who don't want to have to work or to take any risks. The message to the children is that they are worthless people, and that everything that happens to them is their fault. Welcome to Government run life.
The irony is that this will result in increased cynicism and disrespect for authority and the rule of law. Kids aren't stupid; they see right through this crap.
So, if these kids grow up believing that socialist, nanny-state government is bullshit, this may be a good thing.
Here's to private school. No wonder Clinton, Gore and Obama all avoided sending their kids to public schools.
By contrast, it's somewhat interesting that the notorious bogeyman of the teachers' unions, W Bush, sent his twins through the public school system though, isn't it?
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Encourage Althouse by making a donation:
Make a 1-time donation or set up a monthly donation of any amount you choose:
३५ टिप्पण्या:
The elementary school across the street from our house in Hawaii had the same policy. I was appalled! And am so happy that my son's school here doesn't.
This is where we need some civil disobedience. Perhaps a hand-shake-in is required?
Then the students involved can sue the school for civil rights abuses and include the story in their college applications.
Imagine if the two students were of different races. "During middle school our principal expelled me for shaking hands with someone of a different race. This experience opened my eyes..."
Insanity. Makes me so mad that I could spit. They have a similar policy in my son's school.
Jason, that's a great idea.
What's truly appalling is that this would also ban any contact between students and teachers. I frequently sub in middle school grades, and the kids are always giving me hugs or high-fives. (I've known some of them since they were in kindergarten.)
Obviously, kids can be hurt by accidental physical contact or by intentional contact meant to harm. But banning all physical contact is absurd: what, no games of tag? How can you tag someone out during a kickball game? How can you guard or block someone while playing basketball?
The principal sounds like she's in over her head and doesn't know what else to do. This kind of desperation move doesn't reflect well on her at all. Parents should challenge the policy and insist that miscreants are punished, not the entire student body.
Thus finally eroding the polite fiction that public school is anything other than daycare / prison for children.
Few want to do the job they are paid to do so let's sit around and make up dumb rules.
[pre-emptive defense of myself- I am not focusing my criticism on teachers just the educrats]. Are you considered an educrat Althouse?
Darcy:
Is your son allowed to spit in his school yard? Or is it outlawed because one's spittle may hit another kid? Heh.
GO VILLANOVA!
Joan : The principal sounds like she's in over her head and doesn't know what else to do.
What if someone wrote something inappropriate, would they ban all writing? Grade school is supposed to teach children, among other things, acceptable behavior. This principal is shirking their job, through incompetence or a hatred of students.
Either way, all the children are now being taught inappropriate behavior. If you think the principal is acting strangely, think of what these kids will end up doing in their adult years. Will they be developmentally retarded in some way? Having problems forming emotional attachments and acting out in strange ways? I'm sure many wont be affected, but some are bound to be.
AJ Lynch said...
Darcy:
Is your son allowed to spit in his school yard? Or is it outlawed because one's spittle may hit another kid? Heh.
GO VILLANOVA!
I'm pretty sure spitting is a major crime at his school. :)
GO MICHIGAN STATE!
When I was a kid we didn't do high fives. Nobody was tall enough.
Every child should be issued a personal plastic bubble.
I have the feeling the bullies were exploiting a loophole in the previous policy. After all, a kick in the groin is not exactly a hug. A "no touching" policy eliminates any principal's office lawyering.
@Jason: hahahaha. Brilliant.
Schools attract handwringers, busybodies and hysterics.
The problem is that they get public funds and so can't go bankrupt and disappear like other insane companies.
Ah, more nonsense from a principal brainwashed by the NEA and Department of so called education.
She has no common sense, no critical thinking skills, and probably bought her credentials.
Next, not looking and not breathing!
The ninny is obviously a feminist.
Someone needs to slap her on the ass.
Trey
Sounds like Principal Catherine Williams needs to get laid once or twice. Try it, Ms. Williams, you'll like it.
How about terrorist fist bumps? Are they allowed?
I blame feminism.
And the lawsuit-ization of American society.
But mostly feminism.
Oh, but they're educators (pronounced ed.dew.kators) donch'a know? They know what's best.
Same mind set as making it illegal for anyone to own a gun. Then no one will use one, right? Friggin' idiots.
Laws don't stop incidents and were never meant to. Only morons think words on paper have that magical ability. And this excess is where that idiot thinking always leads... Sala bim, sala bam, no one will ever be hurt again!
This article made me think of two things: First, I got home last week and started watching Judge Judy as I was cooking dinner. One of the cases had to do with kid "sack tapping" another kid. Apparently it was a fun new game that had been spreading throughout the school where one boy "taps" another boy's balls. This fun game resulted in the kid whose family was suing taking a trip to the hospital and major medical expenses.
Second, last year there were these groups of crazy people outside of the university I am at, giving people "free hugs".
Both of these things make me think that the Principal was absolutely right in outlawing touching. We don't want the kids hurting someone playing stupid games, or, worse, turning into hippies.
I graduated from a fundamentalist Bible College in 1988. But their policy on touching was more liberal than this.
Next thing you know, they won't let the kids do fun experiments this.
I'm so glad my children are out of school, but now I have my grandchildren to worry about and I'm pushing for homeschooling, or at least private school.
Remember: Homeschoolers are crazy!
If this is sane, I'll take crazy.
Next on the agenda: No scornful expressions.
This is sabotage by the school Administrators who don't want to have to work or to take any risks. The message to the children is that they are worthless people, and that everything that happens to them is their fault. Welcome to Government run life.
I think all the kids should join hands in a great big circle around the flagpole and dare the principal to suspend them all.
Twit.
Jason, I like the way you think.
Trey
The irony is that this will result in increased cynicism and disrespect for authority and the rule of law. Kids aren't stupid; they see right through this crap.
So, if these kids grow up believing that socialist, nanny-state government is bullshit, this may be a good thing.
Here's to private school. No wonder Clinton, Gore and Obama all avoided sending their kids to public schools.
By contrast, it's somewhat interesting that the notorious bogeyman of the teachers' unions, W Bush, sent his twins through the public school system though, isn't it?
it's somewhat interesting that the notorious bogeyman of the teachers' unions, W Bush, sent his twins through the public school system
The Bush twins attended both public and private schools. I presume their mother selected each of them for the best interest of her daughters.
FLS - what we need is more tort reform to reign in your class of scumbags who like to litigate everything in society.
टिप्पणी पोस्ट करा