Hugging in Schools

I just checked out an Eduptopia poll that posed the question, "Are school bans on hugging justified?" Apparently some schools have attempted to ban hugging while others are considering putting time limits on hugs. The article mentioned 3 potential issues arising from hugging: crowded halls, students' tardiness to class, and sexual harassment suits.  Personally, I feel that hugging should by no means be banned, as long as it is appropriate hugging. I think schools have to define and make judgements about what is considered "appropriate". Positive physical touch is something important for kids to receive, and if they are inclined to show affection to their friends in this way, then I do not view this as inappropriate. If students are making it difficult to walk down the hallways for any reason, they should be spoken to about this and their behavior should be monitored, but allowing no hugging at anytime whatsoever does not seem fair.  As far as the tardy to class concern goes, students are responsible for getting to class on time - that is the bottom line. If they choose to engage in behaviors which make them late, they reap the consequences.

What should definitely not be allowed is kissing. This is probably pretty obvious, but there has not been any well-enforced rules against kissing at schools I have worked at.  At the last school I worked at, it was impossible to walk down the hallway without witnessing kids making out. Now that I teach at a middle instead of a high school, this is not so much of an issue. I do notice other types of PDA, in my CLASSROOM even, that I have to call students out on. Just today I had a boy and a girl who sit in a row next to each other turned facing towards each other, holding hands. I had to tell them to keep their hands to themselves. Oh geez....