Sad times in America; High-fives could mean detention for students...

[voivod]

VIENNA, Virginia (AP) -- A show of affection almost landed a teenage boy in detention.

Hugging was 13-year-old Hal Beaulieu's crime when he sat next to his girlfriend at lunch a few months ago and put his arm around her shoulder. He was let off with a warning, but the cost of a repeat offense could be detention.

A rule against physical contact at Kilmer Middle School, about 10 miles west of Washington, is so strict that students can be sent to the principal's office for hugging, holding hands or even high-fiving.

"I think hugging is a good thing," said Hal, a seventh-grader. "I put my arm around her. It was like for 15 seconds. I didn't think it would be a big deal."

Unlike some schools, which ban fighting or inappropriate touching, Kilmer Middle School bans all touching.

But that doesn't seem necessary to Hal and his parents. They've sent a letter asking the county school board to review the rule.

But at a school of 1,100 students that was meant to accommodate 850, school officials think touching can turn into a big deal. They've seen pokes lead to fights, gang signs in the form of handshakes and girls who are uncomfortable being hugged but embarrassed to say anything.

"You get into shades of gray," Kilmer Principal Deborah Hernandez said. "The kids say, 'If he can high-five, then I can do this.' "

Hernandez said the no-touching rule is meant to ensure that students are comfortable and that crowded hallways and lunchrooms stay safe. She said school officials are allowed to use their judgment in enforcing the rule. Typically, only repeat offenders are reprimanded.

[Jesus H Christ]

Looks like everyone is on double-secret probation - no more fun- no more delta

[LLFHS]

[seenbad]

Dude, that's so tight. Another Gunther video!!!

[FORD]

[jimmy812]

I can't sympathize too much. Those middle school kids do enough touching at their rainbow parties.

[ZeoBandit]

This is rediculous.

[Wickett]

High fives should be banned?? How would this guy survive??


Banning high fives.. talk about using a hatchet to kill a horsefly...

[chefcraig]

Daily contact with others is a normal part of life, and outlawing contact in school is not going to reduce fighting or promiscuity.

I can put up with the incidental contact one encounters on the bus. What kills me is forgetting my earphones and being incapable of avoiding the pure nonsense and utterly clueless horseshit that comes out of the mouths of the same folk.

[smithjc]

Put Neidermeyer on it, he's a sneaky little shit just like you.

That's a bit much I think. But then what are 7th graders doing these days? They're too young for dating and that kind of touching. S/B a hands off place anyways.

[willy4pres]

Only a teacher could agree with something like this.

[Wickett]

Only a teacher could agree with something like this.

so there should be a rule in place banning high fives?

[willy4pres]

so there should be a rule in place banning high fives?

Ummmm, no.

Teachers...jaded...sick of kids...hate their jobs...invent moronic rules to keep kids from acting like kids...blah blah blah.

[Wickett]

Ummmm, no.

Teachers...jaded...sick of kids...hate their jobs...invent moronic rules to keep kids from acting like kids...blah blah blah.

sorry.. just checked the "sarcasm" setting on the computer.. it was set to "off"

[willy4pres]

sorry.. just checked the "sarcasm" setting on the computer.. it was set to "off"

Nah, it's probably me. This freeware I pulled off the internet is supposed to reconfigure my sentences into hilariously saucy sarcastic comedy gold. It's obviously not working as advertised.