No touch policy at school?

[purpleme12]

My child is going into high school
Apparently there's a 'no touch' policy at school!
Ie you can't even hug .....

Out of all the rules I didn't foresee this one...

Wondering how common this is?
Is this the case at anyone else's school?
Seems really draconioan to me

They can hug their friends outside of school. I guess I can see it just means there is less ambiguity. It's black and white. Otherwise you could have someone saying they were touched sexually and the other person says it was just a hug or whatever. I am not sure how common it is though.

Seems an easy way to stop any confusion.

They can hug on their own time if they want!

Are you sure that’s the case between students? A lot of secondary schools have a no touch policy between staff and students.

Do they need to be hugging each other at school?

I can’t remember actually hugging any of my friends at school, even though I liked them very much indeed!

That’s interesting, I wonder if it’s because they’ve had too many previous issues? I mean at least it makes things crystal clear to the kids I suppose . But then how do they manage football at break time etc.. kids inevitably end up having physical contact.

Yes, sure that's it's between students.

No touch. Boys can't do that greeting they do with the hand and like a manly hug (didn't know how else to describe, sorry 😂). One got told don't do that school actually starts cos you'll get told off for real then.

So not even linking arms?

Apparently so

This is actually very sensible to outline, as it's mostly going to be inappropriate in that environment and there's total clarity. Everyone knows what to expect and how to behave. Touching others can be intended as harmless, but perhaps not be. And where the intention is the problem, the consequence can follow regardless of having to debate what either party felt, believed or says they did, as the rule was broken. This should protect children and adults alike.

I find it sad that it's come to this with batshit rules. But of course common sense isn't a thing anymore.

Not in 11-16 year olds who haven't been properly socialised, no. They need boundaries because they can't seem to judge for themselves what is acceptable towards others.

Good. Boys are always bloody scuffling.

Same in my son’s school. Seems to work ok from what I hear (or rather don’t hear any complaints about it).

True! And for boys (like my three) who don’t like that this rule would be a blessing.

They did this at my sons primary school, i only found out when he told me he wasn't allowed to play tag anymore, his favourite playtime game.

I messaged the head teacher to ask why they had created such a policy without letting any of the parents know, he then sent a message out about it.

I feel it promotes an unrealistic, socially distanced society. They will feel awkward hugging a friend, comforting someone who is upset or simply brushing past someone, I certainly don't want my child to grow up like this.

Funnily enough they decided it was still OK for them to touch whilst playing football 🙄🙄🙄

It sharp got cancelled, another one of the headteachers ridiculous ideas.

Totally impossible to police. Lads in particular grab each other all the time.

Why did it get cancelled? I mean, did people complain and that's why?

I don't know if this is a new rule or if not, how long it's been in place. I'm not a fan of it, no.

They don't learn boundaries by being told they can't ever touch. They learn them by making mistakes and finding out what touch is OK and what isn't. If they are not allowed to learn those boundaries at school, they will not have learned them when they leave school.

I do not know how kids are going to learn what touch is OK and what touch isn't, if they aren't allowed to make mistakes at school.

We are apes. We are not designed never to touch each other. This is profoundly unhealthy.

And yes I know lots of people don't like being touched and there are all sorts of advantages to these policies, but overall the fact that people feel we need them is the sign of a deeply unhealthy culture.

Way back in the 1960s our headmaster introduced the 6 inch rule. Cue everyone going around carrying rulers and extravagant messing around especially as the corridors were packed at lesson changeover as I suspect they are in modern schools. The ridicule meant it was quietly dropped

I remember this rule being introduced when I was at school, we found it hilarious and stupid.

However it got rid of all the problems about teachers having to separate boyfriends and gurlfriends etc.

So do you think it worked?
Did the rule stay?

Well he got a message from me to say I wasn't happy, I know the other parents wernt either but I don't know if they complained.
I would say it was more because the kids didn't adhere to it. Why would they, it's going against a natural human interaction.

Parents should bring their children up to know this by this age and if they (like many) haven't, then those who have the misfortune to teach them or have to be in the same class as them suffer the consequences.

It was introduced when I was in Yr9, still there when I left Yr11.
No one was actually that bothered by the rule.