I agree Lily that's common sense or in this case lack there of.

Amen...I mean we gotta be INTELLIGENT adults about this...just what Nazi communists are coming up with these rules? WHO had their life ruined by a hug they got at school? WHO spent years in therapy because when the bell rang they hugged their friends goodbye? WHO went to jail because it was declared a federal crime to touch another human being?

With respect cadet, have you actually READ any of the arguements for and against this issue?

Your comment above is a somewhat insular blanket condemnation, without taking into account any of the VALID reasons that have been put forward!

To answer just one of your questions ...
"WHO went to jail because it was declared a federal crime to touch another human being?"

The prisons are full to bursting point with people who "Touched another human being" ........

I suggest you read some of the counter arguements in this thread, from people who know what they are talking about.

Sad but true Dave

This seems to be the crux of the problem here.

Of course we must protect our kids from any innapropriate contact, either between themselves, or with a teacher, - but where exactly do you draw the line?

Is it not fair to say that the world is perhaps becomming a little paranoid with regard to "intimate" contact with our children, in ANY environment?

All too often we hear the most horrendous stories of children being abused both sexually and physically by parents, and RARELY, also by school teachers - but is it fair to automatically suspect any adult who shows kindness and compassion to a child - and what effect does that have on the child, to be told that he/she must REPORT any show of affection from an adult?

Well here's the way I see it...if every little thing one student does with another is going to allegedly ruin the other kid's life, they had better ban all sports, all dances, all gym classes and showers, and ban all students from speaking or coming within 3 feet of anybody else so long as they're in school. That's how much sense this policy makes.

I mean let's face it, when there's 30 kids in one shower room there's bound to be FAR MORE unwanted innapropriate touching there than you'll get in a split second hug. Anybody agree?

"I mean let's face it, when there's 30 kids in one shower room there's bound to be FAR MORE unwanted innapropriate touching there than you'll get in a split second hug. Anybody agree? "

How on earth can you make such definitave comments? Why is there 'bound to be' contact in a shower room?
That's almost as ridiculous as saying "If I go outdooors it's BOUND to rain" !

You are taking this whole arguement completely out of context, and exaggerating things that have no relevance!

As a former Flying Officer in the Air Training Corps I had to say to any cadets 'I am going to touch you' if I needed to adjust a collar on parade, or even put an arm around a devastated child, or put a blanket around one with hypothermia!

Another problem with all of this is that this is a litigious society. Every time a kid gets an office referral we have some idiot threatening to sue. You have to expect the school to protect itself.

Example: When I was in the sixth grade, a friend of mine sat on the edge of a table while waiting in line for the pencil sharpener. The table fell over and fell on his hand. He lost a finger. His parents sued the school disctrict (successfully) because there was a rule that said you couldn't sit on tables, but there wasn't a rule against sitting on that specific table.

School districts don't have enough money to educate kids. It is to be expected that they would make rules that could prevent lawsuits.

And don't tell me that no one has ever sued over kids hugging.

Rediculous stories like these are the direct result of frivolous lawsuits. Everyone is so afraid to be sued or worse in a place of business, school, etc. That is why these obtuse rules are created. I read an article a few years back about a school in Florida that banned tag because it wasn't fair to the kids who weren't as fast as the others. Sounds like socialism to me...hmmm.