School bans ALL physical contact

[DataColour]

The parents haven't been informed by the school of this rule, but the kids have been told they will get a warning for the first transgression and then a detention is it happens again. No physical contact at all permitted. How are they going to enforce it and is this the case is any other school (from a quick Google I found that a school in Essex has done this) and AIBU to think it's ridiculous? I have 2 DCs in this school so it will affect them.

It's a secondary school.

So you can’t hug your best friend ?
hold hands ?
like nothing ?

That’s just weird. Not human. Not natural. What if they want to put their arm round or hug their friend? What if they want to tap someone on the shoulder to get their attention?

Sounds more like prison

They should all skip into detention together holding hands.

So we haven't been told the details, what we are hearing is that all contact is banned, no hugging, holding hands, no high fives etc

Unacceptable on so many levels.

My friend who has a DC there has emailed to confirm, and yes, it is as the kids have told us. Apparently, they can't tell what's acceptable/unacceptable contact, so all contact is now banned.

When these ridiculous blanket bans on standard things come in there’s normally a smaller issue they are trying to (unsuccessfully) deal with. If you can find out what that is you might be able to unravel it.

Yeah...nope to this. I would be complaining to the head and to the governors and would tell my child not to attend a detention about this and have their back about it. This is not normal or healthy. It's school not a prison.

It been the same in many schools I have taught in, including the one I teach in now - so much better and safer for everyone - no playfighting, etc, no excuse of "we were only playfighting" when someone is hurt - and its the same in most workplaces, isn't it, so good preparation

Assuming boys wouldn't stop touching girls inappropriately.

I think you just leave the school then, if you are not going to support the school rules, but be prepared for your options to be limited going forward, as this is a common rule in schools and has been for a very long time

But they are kids! Not working adults, they have different mental needs.

And actually, I can hug a colleague and receive no sanctions.

That's ridiculous

only if it is consensual, if you hug a colleague that does not want it, you will get sanctioned!

And it is at school! They can behave differently outside of school. School is a learning environment.

Honestly, the amount of time I have wasted in my career attempting to untangle "playfighting" that goes wrong - it is much better for everyone to have the no contact rule in place

This is so depressing.

The thing I noticed during covid was when kids went back to school they all came out of school crowding in groups, touching each others’ arms and laughing. It struck me how ingrained touch is in our nature and how it was impossible to police it in younger people.

Schools are getting worse and worse... from what we hear from friends who kids are in school.. especially high schools.
Too many rules and regulations.. it's like Army camps or youth prisons.
Thank goodness you have the choice to de register and home educate.
Mental health over school education any time.

Faie enough. Until they can learn what is appropriate they might as well have a blanket ban. Presumably they'll have a pshe lesson on it?

It will also stop the spread of nits.

That's not how it works in a democratic society. Instruments of the state, such as schools, are beholden to citizens, not the other way round. If parents object to school policy, then the school needs to listen to them. The arrogance of SLTs and 'academies', and their utter disdain for their constituency (parents and pupils) is appalling. The whole "vote with your feet" attitude is fine in the commercial sphere, but has no place in civil society - although it is indicative of 40 years of the marketisation of public life.

The kids need to push back. I would get all the kids to get into detention at once.

Is this the school in Essex that hit the redtops for banning touching in January of this year? Or one that isn't in the news?

Could you provide a link @DataColour as you said you saw it on Google?

What with a massive group hug?

...where did my quoted bit go? Trying again...

My grandsons school did that. He was upset cos he couldnt be matey with his friends.
So they are totally explicit about sex and ban physical contact.
I suppose they must have a reason. Maybe they could be up front about explaining.

Surely then the rule should be no playfighting, not banning all contact.

Dont be ridiculous, there will never be any consensus between parents on how they want the school to be run.

Perfectly illustrated in lockdown when parents watched online lessons and were constantly emailing in criticisms that all neatly cancelled each other out 😂

Schools are not democracies and parents are not voters - either support the school rules or take your child out, it is up to you.

More parents are happy with the no touching rule than unhappy with it anyway, from the few times it has been mentioned - it is really a non issue in most schools, just of the time, just part of the culture