Have You Hugged Your Principal Today?

Katherine Mangu-Ward | October 1, 2007

The Chicago Tribune reports: "An Oak Park middle school has now instituted a no-hugging policy. The new policy at Percy Julian Middle School says the school's 860 students are not supposed to hug anywhere inside the building." Apparently, too many kids were feeling the love between classes, and clogging the hallways with their "hug lines"

Principal Victoria Sharts said hugging is more appropriate for airports or for family reunions than in a school.

And, of course, there's the ever-present threat of inappropriate hugging to be vigorously guarded against:

"There is another side to the issue when a hug is either unwanted or becomes inappropriate as judged by one of the students involved," wrote Principal Sharts.

Oak Park is following the lead of Fairfax, Virginia, with its hug crackdown.

To read about a better way, check out how Russia is encouraging hugs (and much, much more) amongst its young and fertile population.