Florida eighth-grader gets detention for hugging a friend

originally posted by: CharlieSpeirs
a reply to: ladyinwaiting

True Lady, very true.

I don't always agree with Annee but we always need a Devil's Advocate no matter the subject...

We shouldn't expect or want ATS to become a back patting exercise.

Thanks.

There are reasons to see the objective side of all things.

Being able to see an objective viewpoint(s)- - does not qualify as support. Its just another viewpoint.

My mom was a very emotional person. Discipline was quotes from Keats, Shakespeare, Lincoln, etc - - in a rather dramatic manner. Try figuring out what they mean when your only 10.

I'm not going to "knee jerk" an emotional response without considering perspective and how it affects the kids world. Kids of this generation are creating their own world - - - not a clone of ours.

I don't know about this. I am only 30. Before I was kicked out of high scool in 2002 I regularly made out with my second year girlfriends in the hallway between classes, and the teachers would just be like "move it along" or "save it for after school". I cannot recall a time in school where anyone was disciplined for non-pornographic physical conduct nor did I hear complaints from anyone complaining of such.

I remember students being expelled for being caught having sex or other sexual acts on school grounds, but not hugging and kissing. Hyper sensitive world this land has become.

originally posted by: AmericanRealist
I regularly made out with my second year girlfriends in the hallway between classes, and the teachers would just be like "move it along" or "save it for after school".

Let's try this again. Anything, of course, can be taken to extreme. I am not sure I support zero tolerance. But, maybe it is needed as there seems to be a lot of disruption in schools these days.

I live at the beach not far from Hollywood. Obviously, not one of the more conservative areas. The high school brought back strict dress codes 2 years ago. (Strict for our area).

Kids today are bombarded by sex and violence in the media, computer, and gaming. Maybe making school a hands off "safe zone" isn't a bad idea.

As far as comforting a friend --- how does one know that just from observation? Perhaps there should be a comfort zone in (or near) the counsellors office. A room friends can go to if they are in distress.

There are about 50 million kids in public school in America. It's hard to assess anything from one incident.

Civil discussion would be nice. Attacking the messenger, not so much.

a reply to: Annee

I am not the subject of this thread.

My apologies,that was an alcohol fueled knee jerk reaction based on emotion...

originally posted by: hopenotfeariswhatweneed
a reply to: Annee

I am not the subject of this thread.

My apologies,that was an alcohol fueled knee jerk reaction based on emotion...

No issues, I've done the same

a reply to: Spider879

Unless the friend had a fit about being hugged, the school needs to back off. It's ridiculous, to suspend a student over a friendly hug! Come on; they can teach all sorts of sex, but kids can't give one another a hug? Really???