Why I understand the concern with generalizations -hugging, pats on the
head, and other practices are becoming suspect more and more. At the center
my children used to attend they had two male teachers and on average they
were shadowed about 4 times a year by city certification because of
complaints they hugged a child or were holding their hand. NAEYC has put
out several articles on this very issue. I have seen this also occur in
schools in regards to sexual orientation in which a simple hug has become
suspect. As a method of worker protection some districts/unions have it in
their policy of banning hugging and other forms of affection. I know when
I did my student teaching their was a page of guidelines in relation to
this very issue, such as leave your classroom door open etc.
In our SOE there was a student organization that argued for a "touch free
curriculum" which was motivated by concerns of physical abuse, sexual
abuse, and sexual harassment. I suspect a side affect of the recent
Supreme Court ruleing, which I see as a step in the direction of making
schools safer places, is no touching rules will begin to be applied to
students as a way for districts to protect themselves from law suits.
Nate
----- Original Message -----
From: Bonnie Nardi <nardi who-is-at research.att.com>
To: <xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 1999 11:51 AM
Subject: hugging lives!
> This discussion about the schools has been extremely interesting, but
> sometimes features blanket generalizations about public schools that are
> completely different than what I have observed.
>
> A taboo on touching students? My daughter's first grade teacher touches
> every student on the head or shoulder as they enter class every day. My
high
> school senior recently attended two school awards ceremonies where the
> hugging and kissing between teachers and students looked positively
> Hollywood. The touching included everyone from the principal, a seasoned
> veteran, to the newest, youngest faculty. When students were called up to
> the podium to get their awards, they often flung their arm around their
> guidance counselor, who was giving the award (very funny in the case of
the
> tall students looming over the shorter counselors). The shyer students
were
> tucked under the wing of the counselor as he or she explained the
students'
> accomplishments. As far as I could tell, everyone was very happy and the
> touching was a natural expression of joy.
>
> I have also seen lots of hugging in the schools where I have done
research.
>
> Echoing a point Ken Goodman has been making, I think many on this list
might
> be surprised at what happens within the hallowed halls...
>
> -------
>
> Bonnie Nardi
>
>
>
>
> Bonnie A. Nardi
> Research Scientist
> AT&T Labs West
> 75 Willow Road
> Menlo Park, CA 94025
> (650) 463-7064
> nardi who-is-at research.att.com
> fax:(650) 327-3796
> www.best.com/~nardi/default.html
>