BANNING PHYSICAL CONTACT IN SCHOOL

Banning Pysical Contact Altogether

Banning Hugs and High Fives

Is there a difference between good and bad touching? Some schools say no and have gone as far as banning every form of physical contact imaginable. They believe that physical contact is interferring with learning and education.

Administrators who support banning hugs, high fives and touching in school believe it is a disruption to learning. They believe that: high fives or play fighting evolved into violence, regular hugfests between classes regularly impinged on class time, hugs were used to mock students, and unwelcomed hugs bordered on sexual harassment.

There is definitely a difference between good and bad touching. A hug or a high-five shows affection or excitement. A punch or a kick shows anger and fustration. Giving someone a hug is not the same thing as punching someone or pushing them to the ground. Some physical contact should not be acceptable in school, including those that cause harm to oneself or another or is disrepectful in any way. But touching, as in a high-five or hug, does not cause harm, infact it does the complete opposite. Yes children should be taught about personal space, but banning all physical contact is not the right solution. Instead you teach when physical contact, such as giving hugs or high-fives, is appropriate in school and when it is not.

Good physical contact is important when it comes to social development. Appropriate contact is especially important during emotional periods throughout childhood. School are beginning to regulate genuine, humanizing touch between students. Rather than banning all physical contact, schools need to acknowledge humanity and the need for physical contact and touch.

In schools, children who violate this "no touching" rule are punished in different ways. Some are suspended and others recieve detention. Rather than teachers focusing their time on teaching important concept, they are spending more time acting as referees throughout the school day. They have to make sure they do not see anythng "inappropriate." I feel as though it would take more time and energy trying to stop every kind of physical contact than to teach children the difference between appropriate touching and inappropriate touching. Hugs and high-fives are needed in development, so why ban it altogether?

http://www.teachhub.com/news/article/cat/14/item/573