Sunday, May 29, 2011

School bans hugs and handshakes

A secondary school in south London has banned students from all physical contact with each other, including hugging, high-fives and handshakes. The Quest Academy in South Croydon has enforced the new policy since September last year.

The school's principal, Andy Croft, said the rules helped combat bullying. He said: "Physical contact between students is not allowed at the academy because it is often associated with poor behaviour or bullying and can lead to fighting."



Anita Chong, whose 15-year-old daughter was given a detention for hugging a friend, called the rules "crazy". Ms Chong said the school had taken its rules too far.

"We live in a society where we use touch and we use terms of endearment," she said. "My daughter is one of those that is having exams and she is being taken out of lessons for something so trivial. I find it diabolical really."

With news video.

3 comments:

Insolitus said...

So they can't just ban punching, kicking, shoving, wrestling and other such touching that's usually associated with bullying? Do bullies use hugs and handshakes a lot in south London schools? Crazy indeed.

Anonymous said...

Could this have a homophobic or even an erotophobic reason? *wink wink*

Anonymous said...

Schools should not have these kind of powers people hug it’s a normal part of life. Showing caring and kindness.