Girl, 13, gets detention for hugging two friends

gunnut · 11-07-2007, 21:52 PM

Girl gets detention for hugging - Education - MSNBC.com

Quote:

updated 2:47 p.m. PT, Wed., Nov. 7, 2007
MASCOUTAH, Ill. - Two hugs equals two days of detention for 13-year-old Megan Coulter.

The eighth-grader was punished for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection when she hugged two friends Friday.

“I feel it is crazy,” said Megan, who was to serve her second detention Tuesday after classes at Mascoutah Middle School.

“I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend,” she said.

Megan’s mother, Melissa Coulter, said the embraces weren’t even real hugs — just an arm around the shoulder and slight squeeze.

“It’s hilarious to the point of ridicule,” Coulter said. “I’m still dumbfounded that she’s having to do this.”

District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook.

It states: “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.”

Parents urge change in policy
Coulter said she and her husband told their daughter to go ahead and serve her detentions
because the only other option was a day of suspension for each skipped detention.

“We don’t agree with it, but I certainly don’t want her to get in more trouble,” Coulter said.

The couple plan to attend the next school board meeting to ask board members to consider rewording the policy or be more specific in what is considered a display of affection.

“I’m just hoping the school board will open their eyes and just realize that maybe they shouldn’t be punishing us for hugs,” Megan said.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cool. On the one hand we have middle schools banning hugs. On the other hand we have middle schools handing out birth control pills to girls of the same age who are banned from hugging friends on campus in other schools.

Is this world going insane?

Then again we have people who are absolutely convinced we should ban all cigarette smoking but legalize pot smoking.

Shamus · 11-07-2007, 21:54 PM

Going,going.......gone

.

dalem · 11-07-2007, 21:59 PM

I don't see how anyone can send their kids to public schools in this country anymore. We've gone mad.

-dale

ExNavyAmerican · 11-08-2007, 04:26 AM

The world is mad!

As gunnut said we have schools in Maine handing out pills, but detention for hugs?

In the name of all things holy, what is wrong with the US?!

Brian Douglas · 11-08-2007, 05:04 AM

Yes the World is mad. Humans made it that way! The proof is when a kid gets banned for hugging.

dave lukins · 11-08-2007, 05:46 AM

What is happening? How the hell do people like this ever become to be in charge of our kids? Has anybody checked their qualifications? They have obviously escaped from the set of "One Flew over the cuckoo's Nest" Her Parents need a swift kick in the rear for letting her do "punishment"

Feanor · 11-08-2007, 05:49 AM

But wait. We have to blame someone for it quick. BLAME CANADA!!!!

Brian Douglas · 11-08-2007, 06:24 AM

Well said Dave. If it was my kid I would have her out of the school and into another one.

captain · 11-08-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Douglas

Well said Dave. If it was my kid I would have her out of the school and into another one.

Why Brian?? Isn't that just laying down?

In Australia we have "Parents and Friends" commities and I presume Britain and the U.S. as well have something similar.
Those commities have the power to direct school policy to a fairly large extent.
I would assume that the parents of this child would have a lot of support from other parents and together they should be able to set policy about something such as this.

The biggest problem I believe is the perception that school authorities have unchallengable authority and perhaps a goodly dose of apathy on behalf of the general community.

Removing the child to perhaps, a private school doesn't fix the problem and may in any case be outside the parents financial means to do so.

Another thread here has the title of "is the PC dying".
Well definately not in this case.

Cheers.

Bluesman · 11-08-2007, 11:26 AM

This is exactly what happens when beauracracies are given this sort of power. This mindless following of nonsensical rules is the product of thinking that Big Brother knows best.

And may I remind you that the two most reliable voting blocs in the Democratic party are government employees and the public school establishment, both of which have combined here to come up with this li'l gem of good judgement. Just sayin'.

HistoricalDavid · 11-08-2007, 11:44 AM

Right. 'Cause it's true-blue Democrat liberal bureaucrats who are the driving force behind banning hugging, trying to get intelligent design on the curriculum and satanic witchcraft material (read: Harry Potter) out of school libraries.

Bluesman · 11-08-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HistoricalDavid

Right. 'Cause it's true-blue Democrat liberal bureaucrats who are the driving force behind banning hugging, trying to get intelligent design on the curriculum and satanic witchcraft material (read: Harry Potter) out of school libraries.

No, but if you want to see a CONSERVATIVE reaction to this kind of idiocy, you're going to have to modify your disdain a bit. My point is a very simple one: this is a product of the LIBERAL mindset, and a DEMOCRATICALLY-CONTROLLED edifice. Nothing more. Did you follow that?

HistoricalDavid · 11-08-2007, 15:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesman

No, but if you want to see a CONSERVATIVE reaction to this kind of idiocy, you're going to have to modify your disdain a bit. My point is a very simple one: this is a product of the LIBERAL mindset, and a DEMOCRATICALLY-CONTROLLED edifice. Nothing more. Did you follow that?

...No, actually, I didn't, and the capital letters didn't help.

The teaching of real science in your nation's public science classrooms is a considerably more important than being able to hug and guess what, it's nobody but the creationist Right (sorry... advocates of 'Intelligent Design') fighting that goal.

I don't even know why you invest yourself so much into the dichotomy; you've spoken disdainfully of religion in the past and certainly never supported it. But now, because most of your political posts on WAB seem to be a lib-con contest all the f-ing time, you've probably shoehorned yourself into an uncomfortable position. That is, unless you admit that conservatives don't get it right all the time.

Ooh I know, you'll blame it on it being public education? :p

Southie · 11-08-2007, 15:43 PM

I'm in big trouble! I'm always getting and giving hugs from students. Thank gosh it's not from any gang members, or I might get shanked!

lwarmonger · 11-08-2007, 18:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HistoricalDavid

...No, actually, I didn't, and the capital letters didn't help.

The teaching of real science in your nation's public science classrooms is a considerably more important than being able to hug and guess what, it's nobody but the creationist Right (sorry... advocates of 'Intelligent Design') fighting that goal.

I don't even know why you invest yourself so much into the dichotomy; you've spoken disdainfully of religion in the past and certainly never supported it. But now, because most of your political posts on WAB seem to be a lib-con contest all the f-ing time, you've probably shoehorned yourself into an uncomfortable position. That is, unless you admit that conservatives don't get it right all the time.

Ooh I know, you'll blame it on it being public education? :p

You know that "public" is just another word for "communist" right?

11-07-2007, 21:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shamus WAB Court Jester *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 04-12-07 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,163 Country:	Going,going.......gone . __________________ A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

11-08-2007, 04:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
ExNavyAmerican *Military Professional* Join Date: 03-02-07 Location: Ningbo, China Posts: 827 Country:	The world is mad! As gunnut said we have schools in Maine handing out pills, but detention for hugs? In the name of all things holy, what is wrong with the US?! __________________ "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson

11-08-2007, 05:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brian Douglas Regular Join Date: 12-28-06 Location: Iasi.Romania. Posts: 78 Country:	Ban for hugging Yes the World is mad. Humans made it that way! The proof is when a kid gets banned for hugging.

11-08-2007, 11:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bluesman WAB Bartender *Defense Professional* *Military Professional* Join Date: 11-24-04 Location: Vacaville, CA. Posts: 7,468 Country:	This is exactly what happens when beauracracies are given this sort of power. This mindless following of nonsensical rules is the product of thinking that Big Brother knows best. And may I remind you that the two most reliable voting blocs in the Democratic party are government employees and the public school establishment, both of which have combined here to come up with this li'l gem of good judgement. Just sayin'. __________________ "The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it, and if one finds the prospect of a long war intolerable, it is natural to disbelieve in the possibility of victory." - George Orwell

11-08-2007, 11:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
HistoricalDavid Distant Deeps or Skies *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 07-19-05 Location: North London, UK Posts: 2,100 Country:	Right. 'Cause it's true-blue Democrat liberal bureaucrats who are the driving force behind banning hugging, trying to get intelligent design on the curriculum and satanic witchcraft material (read: Harry Potter) out of school libraries. __________________ HD Ready?

11-07-2007, 21:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
dalem Banished *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 11-23-04 Location: Columbia Heights, MN Posts: 8,557 Country:	I don't see how anyone can send their kids to public schools in this country anymore. We've gone mad. -dale

11-08-2007, 05:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
dave lukins *Military Professional* Join Date: 01-04-07 Location: cheshire uk Posts: 5,191 Country:	What is happening? How the hell do people like this ever become to be in charge of our kids? Has anybody checked their qualifications? They have obviously escaped from the set of "One Flew over the cuckoo's Nest" Her Parents need a swift kick in the rear for letting her do "punishment"

11-08-2007, 05:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Feanor Banished Join Date: 06-12-07 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,385 Country:	But wait. We have to blame someone for it quick. BLAME CANADA!!!!

11-08-2007, 06:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Brian Douglas Regular Join Date: 12-28-06 Location: Iasi.Romania. Posts: 78 Country:	Well said Dave. If it was my kid I would have her out of the school and into another one.

11-08-2007, 15:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
Southie USAF Retired TSgt *Military Professional* Join Date: 04-09-07 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 1,684 Country:	I'm in big trouble! I'm always getting and giving hugs from students. Thank gosh it's not from any gang members, or I might get shanked! __________________ "If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were." Richard Bach

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