New Jersey Middle School Bans Hugging

By Aylin Zafar, TIME

New Jersey Middle School Bans Hugging

March 26, 2012 Updated Mar 26, 2012 at 12:17 PM PDT

Of all the things that schools could ban kids from doing, hugging is now apparently unacceptable behavior. At least in one New Jersey middle school.

Tyler Blackmore, the principal of Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School, instituted the rule following some “incidents of unsuitable, physical interactions,” MSNBC reports, declaring it a “no hugging school.”

Even when taking into account the “unsuitable” interactions the administration is referring to, what happens when a student’s friend is sobbing in tears after a bad day? Should a student really not be allowed to comfort their friend? What about wishing someone a happy birthday? Is shaking hands going to be the new form of congratulations and well-wishes between close friends?

“It makes our school look bad, and it makes our school look like we do more than hug, but we do not,” a student told MSNBC.

Luckily, school superintendent David Healy told the Huffington Post that no one will be punished for hugging, and that there are separate policies addressing inappropriate relationships and conduct.

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