Illinois Middle School Says Love is Wrong

School board bans hugging

Illinois middle school bans hugs between students
The Associated Press

OAK PARK, Ill. --There's a new rule at Percy Julian Middle School this year: No hugging.

The policy says that hugging is not allowed among the suburban Chicago school's 860 students anywhere inside the building. At issue were students forming "hug lines" that made them late for classes and crowded the hallways, said Victoria Sharts, the school's principal.

"Hugging is really more appropriate for airports or for family reunions than passing and seeing each other every few minutes in the halls," Sharts said.

Another reason to institute the no-hugging policy was that some hugs could be too long and too close, Sharts said.

"There is another side to the issue when a hug is either unwanted or becomes inappropriate as judged by one of the students involved," Sharts wrote in a statement to parents. "On occasion, we do deal with those incidents. The goal is always to promote safe and orderly hallways where everybody can get by, be safe, and be on time."