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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaryland School Bans Hugging, Birthday Party Invitations And Homemade Food
From the same state that suspended a 7-year-old for turning his Pop Tart into a Pop Tart shaped like a gun, comes a ban on hugging.
Southern Maryland Newspapers Online reports on the new guidelines for visitors, parents and students for St. Marys County public elementary schools:
Birthday invitations should not be handed out at school, Hall said, because students who are not invited could have their feelings hurt. She said school PTAs could develop phone and email contact lists, with parents approval, to distribute.
Foods for celebrations should be limited to store-bought items that contain ingredient lists so as not to interfere with childrens food allergies, according to the rules.
Parents visiting the cafeteria should not hug or touch children other than their own, nor should they discipline other children, the guidelines say. Parents should also not walk with their child when he or she leaves the cafeteria.
Other changes include limiting recess visits for parents, prohibiting visits from siblings and a new ban on approaching teachers in person to schedule meetings. Visitors must also now check in with the front desk and have their photo taken. The complete list of rules can be read in the Best Practices on School Visitors document.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/maryland-school-bans-hugging_n_2900992.html?utm_hp_ref=@education123
When my daughter was in public school (1st grade) we would go to see her at lunch and hug her and her best friend. Didn't realize this was a problem.
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NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)Maybe they're trying to out-crazy Bloomberg.
sadbear
(4,340 posts)Here in deep red Texas.
I don't know if it's nanny state or just the districts protecting themselves from litigious parents and their lawyers.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)hobbit709
(41,694 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,173 posts)That being said, it might be the latter situation. Clearly an overreaction.
But it's St. Mary's County. That place was screwed up back when I lived in Maryland. Never had a good experience with St. Mary's County, don't ask me why.