dog, cat

Cuddling is a no-no.

As a mother who takes issue with how crazy horseplay can get during recess, I still am having a hard time understanding this one.

Last week, a Connecticut middle school principal made it perfectly clear that if one of her students touches another one--in any way--there will be a price to pay.

That's right, no high-fives, no hugs, no horseplay. Period, or face expulsion.

According to a letter written by the East Shore Middle School principal, a violent incident that put one student in the hospital is what prompted the schoolwide "no touching" policy.

Principal Catherine Williams sent out a letter earlier in the week telling parents recent behavior has seriously impacted the safety and learning at the school.
"Observed behaviors of concern recently exhibited include kicking others in the groin area, grabbing and touching of others in personal areas, hugging and horseplay. Physical contact is prohibited to keep all students safe in the learning environment," Williams wrote.

Okay. Sort of.

But I like what Babble's JeanneSager had to say about the difference between theory and reality when it comes to middle school kids:

[They] don't live in a theoretical world. They're at an age when they literally crave touch. They are starting to get an itch for sexual exploration - even though they're not ready for sex (no matter what they think). So they tickle. They hold hands. They hug. And since they're still little kids, they also tussle, slap five, roughhouse. 

Some of them take it too far, obviously, which is where discipline comes into play. Lay down common sense rules, and kids respond. If they don't, they face the consequences. Like punishment for kicking a kid in the groin.

If they weren't respectful enough of the rules NOT to get violent, is a no touching rule really going to stop them?

Exactly.

Thoughts?