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Connecticut School Bans Physical Contact

East Shore M.S. Outlaws "High-Fives," "Hugging" And Horseplay Of Any Kind; Violators May Face Expulsion
MILFORD, Conn. (CBS) ―


A Connecticut middle school principal has laid down the law: You put your hands on someone -- anyone -- in any way, you're going to pay.
A violent incident that put one student in the hospital has officials at the Milford school implementing a "no touching" policy, according to a letter written by the school's principal.

East Shore Middle School parents said the change came after a student was sent to the hospital after being struck in the groin.

Principal Catherine Williams sent out a letter earlier in the week telling parents recent behavior has seriously impacted the safety and learning at the school.

"Observed behaviors of concern recently exhibited include kicking others in the groin area, grabbing and touching of others in personal areas, hugging and horseplay. Physical contact is prohibited to keep all students safe in the learning environment," Williams wrote.

Students and parents are outraged. They said the new policy means no high-fives and hugs, as well as horseplay of any kind. The consequences could be dire, Williams warned in the letter.

"Potential consequences and disciplinary action may include parent conferences, detention, suspension and/or a request for expulsion from school," Williams wrote.

Many think the school's no tolerance policy goes way too far. Others said it's utterly ridiculous.

"Now it's almost as if it's a sanitized school. Where you have to keep your distance from everybody? And that's not what school is about," one father said.

"What if they are out on the playground at recess, or in gym class?" parent Kathy Casey wondered. "You know, gym class is physical."

"Observed behaviors of concern recently exhibited include [...] hugging

Why do schools make such ridiculous knee-jerk policies? I mean, some kid got in a minor fight, got hurt, and the school creates a no-touching-whatsoever policy...how does this train of thought work?

East Shore Middle School parents said the change came after a student was sent to the hospital after being struck in the groin.

yeah, being punched in the groin is a minor fight. I'd be willing to bet that the two kids hadn't been physically fighting before or after that one act.

I wouldn't be thinking

This sounds like something a strawman from a satirical cartoon created by a writer who's really unsubtle and uncreative would do. But then, so did Jack Thompson's entire career.

There ought to be a special prize awarded to people like this. The Living Strawman Award. "For levels of idiocy so extreme, you'd swear no real human being was capable of it!" It would get published every year, like the Darwin Awards.