Wednesday, November 7, 2007

STOP THE MADNESS!

I really didn't plan on posting today because I'm busy, busy, busy. But...I made the mistake of checking out some "news" stories while I was on a break and look at what I found:

Girl, 13, gets detention for hugging two friends
Illinois middle school bans public displays of affection; parents urge change
updated 8:57 p.m. CT, Tues., Nov. 6, 2007

MASCOUTAH, Ill. - Two hugs equals two days of detention for 13-year-old Megan Coulter. The eighth-grader was punished for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection when she hugged two friends Friday. “I feel it is crazy,” said Megan, who was to serve her second detention Tuesday after classes at Mascoutah Middle School. “I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend,” she said.
Megan’s mother, Melissa Coulter, said the embraces weren’t even real hugs — just an arm around the shoulder and slight squeeze. “It’s hilarious to the point of ridicule,” Coulter said. “I’m still dumbfounded that she’s having to do this.”
District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook. It states: “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.”


(Full story at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21661718/?GT1=10547)

You have got to be kidding me. What's next? Placing muzzles on students who smile at one another too much? Automatic removal of vocal cords for laughing too often? Hermetically sealing kids in body plastic to prevent all human contact? Come on, society! This is positively Orwellian and for those of you who don't know what that means, look it up. I have a feeling we're all going to be way too familiar with that word before too long. And just to clarify...I do understand what the school board was trying to prevent (i.e, kids making out on school grounds, etc.). However, considering the fact that these are the very people who are, in theory, teaching our children things such as...oh, I don't know...the English language maybe...I think they could work a little harder at defining their "Public Display of Affection" policy by employing a more intelligent use of said English language so that they might better delineate the intended meaning of the policy from the broad interpretation so obviously being used by the school officials in this case. (taking a deep breath) This kind of blatant stupidity just TICKS. ME. OFF.
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26 comments:

  1. Another EXCELLENT reason to homeschool my children!

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  2. I read this just after lunch. I've read so much stuff like this that I'm starting to look around. I think I'm a changling and have landed on the wrong planet. Who are these people? How old are they? Did their parents not teach them common sense. Idiots!!!

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  3. YEAH! (Jumping up and down and punching the air) What she said.

    If I were her parent I would be banging on every door of the school board members. Are you freaking kidding me? And then the for the asshat superintendent to say that he thinks the penalty is fair is just another testament to his asshattedness.

    Love,
    Julie

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  4. Kaaarrrriiiiiiii!
    My computer has been dead for like EVER! I have missed you! Do you know that I painted my door blue JUST BECAUSE I LOVED YOUR DOOR SO MUCH? Why am I shouting? Because I frikkin love my door, and you were my inpspiration. Holy cow you have had a lot going on while I was gone! NOT menopause but depression? Your very first soup turreen and a wreath that I want to hang on MY door but I like the one on my door too, halloween memories, no hugging in school, but the JOEY thing ... MAN!!! I am so sorry! I wish I had been here for you. I feel like a terrible blogger friend now. A really really OH MY GOSH MY SON CAME HOME WITH A LIP PIERCING! I gotta go. But first, let me say AGAIN that I am REALLY SORRY and I mean REALLY sorry that I missed this whole month. My computer has been absolutely dead. My daughter's boyfriend (yes my daughter has a boyfriend now ... sigh . . . my kids are growing up!) came over and dis-infected it. It had 1000+ infections and 30 + viruses. But I have to go and get Rob to take that safety pin OUT OF HIS LIP! Couldn't that cause infection?
    I hope my computer is all better and I hope to be "here" for November and December.
    Oh. And I am commenting for way the heck too long but I have to say that I LOVED Conner's grave pictures. The supermans are awesome and I LOVE the mailbox for notes! What an amazing idea! And what a great friend to make you that red velvet cake? cupcakes, and tomato gravy (I want to hear about your gravy issues) and insist on a shopping stop so you could buy something for Conner. What a great friend. I am glad you have awesome friends like that. I hope to become a better friend too. I really like you.
    I hope November treats you well. Hugs to you!!! Love!!! Wendy

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  5. Guess what it TICKS ME OFF as well.

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  6. That anonymous person is me Don't know why it did that! Mary

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  7. Don't EVEN get me started on this one...geez...my heart is doing it's thang again! The next thing you know...they (being the idiotic beuracratic rule makers) will be teaching our children not to make eye contact or as you said smile! Geez...I guess that would save parents money on braces..b/c if you never smile...who will see your teeth and who WILL CARE...THAT'S the issue to me...they are teaching the children of today to be unfeeling...YES...YES I know the reason behind the ruling...but there has to be a happy medium...I think sometimes these folks just talk...talk...talk...to hear their head rattle...and actually don't really give 2 hoots about what they are saying...I know times are hard, I know it is hard to teach appropriate behavior to kids now-a-days...with everything you see all over EVERY THING!! But...really...hugging...HUGGING...we're talking...H*U*G*G*I*N*G!!! NOT mauling...not mugging down...not groping...just a slight side ways hug...WELL...I am glad I wasn't at this school with my children because we would have ALL been kicked out when I hugged my children bye when dropping them off at school...OR I would have been dismissed from my daughters basketball and volleyball games...for hugging her AND her teammates after winning a game...and for being the state champions! OR my son's football team...when they won STATE...and all of them hugged each other...including the coach...parents...mascot...referee's....everyone was hugging...I guess that would have been a "slow" Monday at school then!!

    OK...I said ...don't get me started! I am glad my kids are grown...I just hate to think of the things they and my grandchildren (whenever I am so blessed) will have to endure...during their school years...

    Thanks for informing us...I had seen this before...maybe it was the same story...but I acually think this has happened somewhere else recently! Yikes

    Blessings...
    Teresa

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  8. Imagine saying it is in poor taste to display affection...so are we to all turn into robots and not show any sign of affection at all??? As you say, blatant stupidity at its best. Not that long ago, we had a little 5 year old kindergartener get 3 days suspension because he hugged a little girl in his class. His mother says he's always been a hugger and that's his way of saying thanks...the little girl had given him her crayon! lol There was quite a controversy about it, mostly wondering what idiots came up with the ruling of no displays of affection in schools!!! xox

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  9. We have our radio tuned to KMOX ST Louis...it's our alarm...when the radio came on at 5am...yes, we haven't changed that since J's retirement..must make myself a note. Anyway, I could not believe what I was hearing about this hugging infraction!!?!

    O by the way, it's ok for athletes to hug on field, but spectators better not...heard that one this afternoon...KMOX again.

    I know what you mean, Orwellian...I've feared this before.

    Pat

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  10. Political correctness sickens me. Most of it, anyway. We have gotten to the point where you have to watch every word you utter, every move you make...you're right, it ticks me off, too...no, no it doesn't tick me off...it PISSES ME OFF NO END! I read about a first grader who was expelled for kissing (now how erotic can a first grade kiss be?) a classmate. That was about five years ago, so things aren't getting any better by any stretch. And if my being pissed off offends anyone, well...I'm sorry. K?

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  11. Oh, and I forgot...THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND YOU'RE BACK! I missed you sweet pea!

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  12. Oh.Give.Me.A.Frigging.Break! I guess they want our children to be like tin men....no heart! Amazing. Insane!

    Hugs...yes hugs and lots of them too to you!
    Kat

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  13. Oh come on Kari--surely you can see through this and understand the girls are just "DEPRESSED"!!! The school officials are just trying to keep them from something radical, like being nice to people on a regular basis or showing compassion for others.
    So now that you understand, maybe you could do something that would really, really help this school district---like send them the phone number of Dr. Doogie!

    Oh, by the way, I agree--in reality this is scary---Mom's won't even be able to bond with newborns if we keep this up!!!

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  14. Yea sad... our teachers are sleeping with students..they give condoms away...can't pray in school and can't tell a friend goodbye? What kinda world is this?
    Thanks Kari for all your prayers for me and mom.

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  15. I was in watching the CMA awards (Uncle Wallace was cussing them)when the other shoe dropped...you're decorating for Christmas aren't you? Well, you ARE aren't you? I'll bet Marshmallow World is playing as I type...and Alvin and the Chipmunks are getting ready to rev up. The tree is up, right? And the Christmas Village is being assembled? Uh Huh, I knew it. I just knew it...

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  16. Oh Sandi's comment just made me laugh-go on admit you're decorating for Christmas Kari lol!!!
    Isn't the hugging issue insane- I haven't heard of similar bans over here but I could be wrong!!
    Anyway, I'll let you get back to your decorating now...

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  17. Here! Here!
    I'm with you on this one my friend...next thing ya know they'll ban cyber hugs and smiles...

    (((hug)))
    =)

    Just thought I would get those in before they do
    ;)

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  18. I actually had a comment on a review at work one time that said I "smiled too much" and didn't look like I took work seriously enough....sigh. People are nutty sometimes...
    Terri

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  19. OMG get out of town!!! They have to be kidding, right?!?! I mean come on!!!! That's totally rediculous. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. Lets just color these people stupid!!!

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  20. what a sad, sad world we have become! When my kids were in high school a few years back, we had a new principal. He annouced the first week of school in the commons area/lunch area that there was too much laughter taking place and the students needed to quiet down. WTH

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  21. I saw that on the today's show, so ridiculous!!!

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  22. We have a similar policy and I looked at it to see if it was better than the one shared... it is more clear, but we do have a PDA policy. Yep, it is intended for the make outs, not the kg who hugs.

    I hug my students so I will probably get heat for that sometime!

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  23. Kari,

    Good post and I agree with you. So crazy. I hadn't heard about this till I read this post. I'm glad my kids are out of school. Well, one's still in college but that's a whole different ballgame.

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  24. And we used to live near Mascoutah!! It is the sweetest little town and for them to do this!!! ARGH...stupid, stupid, stupid.

    Love,
    Sue who is imagining Lari running around with bits of tinsel in her hair as she wildly decorates!

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