Student Suspended for Breaking School’s No-Hugging Policy
EmailA 14-year-old middle school student was suspended as a result of the Florida school’s strict no-hugging policy.
Nick Martinez said he hugged his best friend, a female student, quickly between classes, according to WKMG-TV, Orlando, and never thought the gesture would result in suspension. The principal at Southwest Middle School in Palm Bay saw the hug and brought the two students to the dean, who issued a one-day in-school suspension.
“Honestly, I didn’t know, because I didn’t think hugging was a bad thing. I didn’t know you could get suspended for it,” Martinez told WKMG-TV. “A lot of friends are hugging. I just happened to be the one caught doing it.”
According to the school’s student handbook, students can be penalized for hugging or hand-holding with either a dean’s detention or suspension. Kissing calls for a one-day out-of-school suspension.
Martinez’s mother, Nancy Crescente, was outraged to learn her son had been suspended for the “mutual hug,” and is calling on the school board to clarify the policy.
As it stands, the school’s handbook doesn’t distinguish between an inappropriate hug, which could constitute harassment, and a mutual, friendly hug. It also makes no distinction in the policy between 11-year-old students and 16-year-olds, who all attend Southwest.
“We cannot make an opinion or judgment call on whether a hug is appropriate or not. It’s very difficult to police that on campus,” Christine Davis, the public information officer for Brevard County Public Schools, told ABC News.
Davis said the school puts policies and procedures in place to help keep the students focused on learning.
The official policy across Brevard Country schools is that public affection is “in poor taste,” but it does not necessarily result in suspension. This middle school’s Student Advisory Council, a board made up of teachers, parents and administrators, reviewed the district’s guidelines and outlined the specific consequences for public displays of affection.
“Sometimes district policies are broad,” Davis said. “They outline those that need further clarification. They have outlined the consequences for kissing or hugging. They do a very good job.”
The school has no plans to change the policy.
Crescente told WKMG-TV that she would ask the board to change the policy and fight to have her son’s suspension scrubbed from his record.
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back in ‘the day’..we had a hands off policy at our high school (in TN). my boyfriend and I were ‘quite the couple’ always together, breaking up, together again…etc. One day we’re holding hands, the teacher (whom by the way was a witch in her ‘former life) grabbed both of hands jerking them apart. while continuing to hold each of our hands in hers, proceeds with haste to the principle’s office. on the way up there my bf says “what’s the matter with you Mrs. X?? are you NOT GETTING any lately and you just can’t stand it when a young couple in love show affection?” ! seriously that was 26 years ago..long story short..vice principal (who was also the fb coach) laughed…and laughed…and we went back to class….smiling and holding hands!!!
Posted by: Kim Hodges | November 4, 2011, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
We need to amend the Constitution to prohibit Baby Boomers from holding positions of Power. This is aburb and ridiclous that these sexist(as only the male student was punished) bigotted Boomers are allowed to continue to make public policy and enforce the rule of law.
Posted by: Kris W | November 4, 2011, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
What really is ridiculous is that government, organizations, etc. are making these laws and rules, and they’re moronic. I’m embarrassed to be part of a race that in this day and age, is too stupid to even realize the moronic rules and laws they’re making. Let’s get back to our basic humanity. Children need this kind of interaction – it’s supposed to be a basic part of growing up.
Posted by: Kelly | November 4, 2011, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
We are run by idiots. The sad part is these idiots use the school board seat as a step into politics. God help us if they make the step
Posted by: retiredfella | November 4, 2011, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
I do not agree with the posted comments above. When I was in high school, many years ago, girls were forbidden to wear pants even though it was up north and very cold in the winter. Schools need rules to maintain student discipline. I congratulate them for enforcing established rules even though I may not agree with them, they were clearly stated in the student hand book. I have not seen pants hanging half off student’s rear ends exposing their underwear or other bizarre clothing/practices. Students are in school to learn – not to play hanky panky (even though I realize it is a social environment). I do not see a problem with holding hands or a quick hug – change the rule. I was a student in the late ’60s when free love was rampant. We held hands walking our girlfriends to class and nothing “bad” ever happened.
Posted by: Shrek | November 4, 2011, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
Regards to this being sexist it wasn’t, (at least it doesn’t seem to be) as BOTH students were suspended, at least the Huffington Post implies it by saying “The suspension will remain on both student’s permanent records.”
It seems that because he’s the one that publicly spoke about it, and so articles seem to revolve around him, they are using the singular student.
Posted by: Ian | November 4, 2011, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
This is one of the most moronic rules I’ve ever encountered. I don’t care if it’s “in the handbook” it should never bloody have been put in the handbook to begin with. It dishonors the school, its staff, its students, and its history. Put rules in place to prevent Columbine 2.0. Don’t put rules in place that artificially try to revert the community back to 1932.
Posted by: Al | November 5, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
It is what it is. No PDA means exactly that – no public displays of affection. Otherwise, it’s so subjective. When does a “quick” hug become a longer hug, becomes a mini-make-out session? Where are the hands?
I totally get it.
School is for learning. After school, do whatever you want.
Posted by: Eliana | November 5, 2011, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
Strange value system. Students are allowed to verbally cut each other to pieces, harass, even physically attack each other. But they are not allowed to hug each other.
Posted by: Morris Wilburn | November 6, 2011, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm