School bans hugging!
November 13th, 2012 at 3:00 pm by David FarrarYvonne Tahana reports:
North Shore students have been banned from hugging during school hours because too many of them – mainly girls – were consistently arriving late to their classes.
Umm, then you should ban being late to class – but not ban hugging.
A trend among groups of year 8 students – 12- to 13-year-olds – had driven the call, Mrs Cattell said.
“It’s just a little thing that they’re doing. It got out of hand towards the end of morning tea time especially. There would be groups that got back to class 10 to 15 minutes late because they were going around making sure they’d hugged the whole group before they got back to class.
I think hugging is a very healthy positive activity. It’s great kids want to show their friendship for each other with hugs.
More than 600 attend the school and there were also concerns that some children’s feelings could be hurt if they were left out.
Oh dear God.
Parent Lorna Subritsky, whose daughter attends the school, said she could understand it might be annoying for teachers for have stragglers to their classes but the issue could be dealt with by addressing the lateness, not the physical contact.
Exactly.
November 13th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Oh my God peoples feelings could get hurt!
We must legislate against hugging immediately before this spreads further and bouts of post hugging rejection disorder start spreading. The potential negative impact on our health system is just too great!
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Tough on truancy, tough on the causes of truancy!
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Won’t someone please think of the trees.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Actually I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one DPF…I think the “concerns that someones feelings could be hurt” if they were left out explains exactly why it was the hugging they had to address, and not just the lateness….
In the “ultra-senstive to any affront” era we live in, sadly some silly young thing may well find it devastating that she was left out, and do something foolish… teens have topped themselves for things just as trivial…
[DPF: Does this mean we should ban people having sex, in case those not having sex get depressed and top themselves?]
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Way back when I was a school student being late to class would involve getting detention (which often included hard labour), and in my younger years (when we had corporal punishment) a trip to the Headmaster’s office that left you sitting rather gingerly in class.
The result was people tended not to be late for class….and if they were late they tended to have a note from their parents or a from another teacher explaining why they were late.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Small wonder we are turning into a nation of Queers.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Unfortunately there is a real world out there. I know many teachers very well. At many schools discipline is shocking and the teachers have no power except say a 10 minute detention after school otherwise the poopsies parents will get “offended”.
When a bad event happens (daily) like one of the poopsies calls the teacher a “f**ing B* who should be sh*t d*ad and she knows just the boyfriend who would do it for her” and the teacher thinks “I dont have to put up with this” and kicks said B* out of the class, the little dear gets “offended” and cries and feels the need to go round the class and hug every other student before she leaves.
Oh and umm, West Auckland truant officers take the little dears out to coffee bars so they can “bond” with them. Is that addressing the causes of truancy?
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
No, there’s nothing wrong with hugging.
But the point here, I think, is that these kids appear to be doing it at every available opportunity, thus leading them to be late to class.
There’s nothing to stop them having a hug as they get to school, and a last hug at the end of the day, if they feel the urge.
It’s a fad. Harmless. But a little bit can go a long way.
As for the worry about a girl being left out: does anyone remember the Swedish school about three years ago that stopped a boy from handing out birthday invitations because not all the kids were invited?
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Raphael, I couldn’t agree more; bring back corporal punishment–that will sort out lateness. But no, liberals always put a band aid on the symptom and don’t address the cause, and the cause is definitely not hugging; the cause is lack of discipline.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
A friend of mine teaches English in Singapore where corporal punishment is still legal. They have some of the highest student achievement data in the world.
Lateness is an unusual term for the teachers in Singapore, it’s either explained lateness or not at all.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Strictly speaking you are correct of course DPF –
However I have witnessed this piss weak teenagers hugging each other at the drop of a hat thing and it’s quite pathetic; symptomatic I think of the general decline in backbone in our society. (I’m 32…)
If a 15yo boy receives a hug from a 15yo girl, something is WRONG if he just accepts it platonically and doesn’t avail himself of the opportunity to grab her arse. But platonic, I am sorry to say, is the reality of it.
Any move to discourage this softcock, pantywaist behaviour among kids who should be old enough to know better is probably a good thing…
[DPF: You never grab the arse. You place your hand firmly on the lower lower back, so that she is aware you want to do her, but so you can deny it is anything more than a hug if she is not keen!]
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
I heard about a hugging ban at a school a while back and thought it was absolutely ridiculous. But, then, this person explained what the kids had been doing and I changed my mind and thought it was appropriate to ban hugging.
Kids can be absolutely vicious little creatures, I see no problem in trying to curb some of the nastiness.
From what I understand, hugging is being used to bully weaker peers by exclusion.
Some schools also ban ‘swapping’. Because stealing was being disguised as ‘swapping’.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Kleva Kiwi (34) Says:
November 13th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Oh my God peoples feelings could get hurt!
We must legislate against hugging immediately before this spreads further and bouts of post hugging rejection disorder start spreading. The potential negative impact on our health system is just too great!
———–
Vote:The Greens will be after you. They are all into hugs. You are denying them their human right ya know.
November 13th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
DPF: Well, we dont encourage schoolkids (sorry, “students”) to have sex either David! And indeed at the age these kids are it is “banned” by virtue of being illegal….
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
“peoples feelings could get hurt”
Doesn’t this just lay at the heart of everything that is wrong with NZ today.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Lateness is already “banned”, for all the good it has apparently done. Stupid post David, the kids are using it, as they will, to create disruption. It is a game, and unfortunately the only “weapon” the school has is the rather blunt one of a ban.
This time of year too, of course…
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
I wonder what the origins of this fad is? Did it come from overseas for example or from Facebook or where did it start.
I only wonder because the sexualising of younger and younger children through explicit sex ed has been going on for decades and they’re even now doing it in primary schools in Aus, UK, US. Why? Because it corrupts. Just like the totally available pornography we have today corrupts. When you were at primary school, did you want to know about penises and vaginas?
This is of course merely an innocent fad which will pass in time.
Ed but isn’t it best to say, look, OK, hug away, but there are boundaries and these are them? Isn’t that the best way to approach it?
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
How come humanity managed to arrive through the challenges of evolution at the stage its at now without the desease of hugging I dont know.
Why peoples self esteem is so low that they need someone to hug them is beyond me. If we arent careful well all be running around in permanent hugs sooner or later.
the school is right – they should never have allowed such desease spreading activity.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
“Parent Lorna Subritsky, whose daughter attends the school, said she could understand it might be annoying for teachers for have stragglers to their classes but the issue could be dealt with by addressing the lateness, not the physical contact.”
Isn’t it amazing how, no matter what a school does, there is always a rent-aquote parent with an inane point of view ready to pitch in and infer the school must be in the wrong?
She could have easily said:
“Parent Lorna Subritsky, whose daughter attends the school, said she could understand it might be annoying for teachers for have stragglers to their classes but the issue could be dealt with by addressing the physical contact, not the lateness.”
Either way it’s baloney. Fact is the kids are all caught up in a fad, it’s impacting on their schooling and the school’s job is to sort it – it’s like a new addiction for the chattering classes – everyone has a badly-thought out opinion about schools teachers, and is happy to express it. It’s what is wrong with NZ – why are we apparently incapable of letting schools take care of their own business without feeling it necessary to second guess their every action..
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Why peoples self esteem is so low that they need someone to hug them is beyond me. If we arent careful well all be running around in permanent hugs sooner or later.
I blame the Gweens. This is just the sort of stupid, mental thing that they’d come up with, tell me it’s not. It fits their modus operandi like a glove.
Phase II I suspect will be flowers in the hair and maypoles will make a mysterious comeback.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
This has really upset me, I think I will go and have a cry.
Harden the Fuck up all of you metrosexual pansie sooks. If the kids are late to class they get punished (detention) no excuses. Parents who can’t pick up their poopsie on time just have to suck it up. HTFU
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
I am sure the incoming Labour-Green-NZ First-Mana government will make it a policy in all schools. Political Correctness gone made fellows. Next what, no handshakes or G’day mates?
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
“Political Correctness gone made fellows. Next what, no handshakes or G’day mates?”
Yet ‘Hongi’ and Maori prayers will be compulsory….
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Obviously the school is so well run that the biggest issue for teachers to deal with is hugging?
No illiteracy
No bullying
No abused kids
No weed/smoking going on
All kids receiving straight A’s on all tests
All kids participating in sports
So after achieving these remarkable results the Principal and teachers sat around and decided the next problem to attack was hugging as some kids were getting hugged more than others.
Isn’t this the ultimate in dumbing down?
Morons the lot of them
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
A school can (and they often do) make any stupid rule it likes. Schools can ban cellphones, and water bottles, swearing, hugging, whatever. They also make areas around the school out-of-bounds for no reason.
But so what? They’re allowed to. They’re the school, they make the rules. If they want to ban hugging they can. If you don’t like it you can leave the school, suck it up, or cry to mummy and get her to go to the media.
I’m not sure the technical name for the piece of paper, but “SCHOOL BANS HUGGING” was the headline displayed by the Herald sellers on the outside of their trolleys on Queen Street today. I thought, fucking typical, and didn’t buy one (as usual).
Outside of school, kids can do whatever they like (as long as it’s not dragging the school into disrepute) but part of the point of school is stupid rules. It prepares you for the stupid rules in university, stupid rules working, in marriage, car registration, right up until your family are waiting for the doctor to write your cremation certificate because of a stupid rule. But more importantly, it keeps the class in order so that kids can learn.
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
Longknives,
“Yet ‘Hongi’ and Maori prayers will be compulsory….”
And the ‘HAKA’ which is done on any occasion, at any time and in any place.
Vote:Actually Schools should ban TEACHERS, they seem to be the problem yes?
November 13th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
See tristanb @ 7.58.
Vote:Socialist control, thanks Helen, are you sure you are not Helen?
Kids can learn? surely you mean programed to be teachers to increase the Liarbore voting pool.
Wood and trees shit
November 13th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
All Blacks do it now. Why shouldn’t girls?
[Sigh font] What ever happened to the knowing grimace, the firm handshake and the pat on the back?
Steve
You raise a very good point. How late would they be if they did haka instead of hugging?
Vote:November 13th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
“I think hugging is a very healthy positive activity. It’s great kids want to show their friendship for each other with hugs”
Would you say the same if it was year 13 boys hugging the year 9 girls?
No PDA at school. Clear line in the sand.
Vote:November 14th, 2012 at 12:42 am
“the conservative (11) Says:
November 13th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Raphael, I couldn’t agree more; bring back corporal punishment–that will sort out lateness.”
I would have liked to see a teacher brave enough to hit me when I was back at school.
Vote:November 14th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Let’s take morning tea break… it’s not that long to start off with eh? Even if the girls started hugging goodbye when the break started they’d use up all the time.
10-15 mins late to class? What a joke… that’s too much. 15 mins is way too late.
Of course it could be in cases simply a delaying tactic to avoid classtime.
I suspect exposure to California culture plays a part to some degree. Those fucking LA morons seem to spend their whole fucking day greeting each other, embracing, asking how they are, saying goodbye…. as if they hadn’t seen each other for weeks. It’s all done on autopilot like a ritual dance, totally devoid of real meaning, and 100% plastic and fake. It’s more copying of American culture. A lot of kiwi kids are brainwashed by US shit, which is all they look at now, and this is what you get. They just want to fucking hug each other all day long.
I didn’t hug anyone in school!! Not one single hug-loving fucker. The closest I ever got was playing tackle rugby on tennis courts.
Oh well… the late girls are the ones most likely to be knocked up in 2-6 years and on a lifetime handout. They don’t give a shit about learning anything.
I would say to the girls… if you want to hug each other, fine. Do it during break time. When the bell rings, hugging stops, you get to class. Simple.
Vote:November 15th, 2012 at 12:40 am
They’re just playing up as a group.
Vote:Punish the ones that turn up late three or four times and their lateness will soon dry up. Feel less like hugging after a couple of hours detention.