Australian School Bans "Inappropriate" Hugging

Stacy Lunsford
November 1, 2009
Sociology 313-003
Instructor: Colin Olson
Blog Post #4

Australian School Bans “Inappropriate” Hugging

In order to set a good example, an elementary school banned hugging and other displays of affection between preteen boys and girls. Students at Large Bay Primary School were spoken to about “inappropriate” behavior between girlfriends and boyfriends at the beginning of the new term this year. The principle said that school wanted to set strong behavior standards for their year six and seven students, which are the 11 and 13 year olds, the oldest students in the school, because the younger students look up to them. She said that hugging between friends wasn't banned, but that they discourage displays of affection between those who have a boyfriend or a girlfriend at school. Some U.S schools have banned hugging, kisses and other horseplay in an effort to prevent injury and keep the seriousness of the environment. The hugging issue came to light when parents contacted their local newspaper to say that the policy was too strict. The school has not said what would happen if the rule against hugging was broken. The South Australian Primary Principles Association said that the policy was common sense.

Citation:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33391405/ns/world_news-weird_news/

I would say that this is a form of formal social control because the school is trying to regulate how preteens should be acting towards one another. If hugging between boyfriends and girlfriends is banned, then perhaps all displays of affection should be banned in all age groups. I think that this banned rule is bad because it sends the message that hugging is bad, when its not. I think the school just wants to find another way to control the students because they don't want to deal with certain issues or simply don't know how to deal with certain issues.