Redstate

Different cultures have different expectations regarding personal space, touching, etc. Somehow this nation has been infected with the most virulent form of multiculturalism that is protected by a rhetorical human ignorance enforcement device known as political correctness.

When common, traditional homogenous standards are abandoned as we can see happening as as "diversity" erases them, then rules must be contrived to placate all possible cultural expectation extremes by whatever authority is in charge. The only possible result of such a process is the implementation of forms of increasingly bizarre absurdity destined to be mocked by all sides...as they dutifully comply.

It's sad, but this illness will remain virulent for as long as we let "tolerance" remain errantly defined as "acceptance" and refuse to reassert even the most reasonable of our traditional moral absolutes.

Next up?

Foot baths in the Washington Monument.

Wheee!

Better be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security. --Edmund Burke

Blog: TMYN

Is school the place to learn the “social rules of appropriate physical contact”?

My answer: no.

In the first place, many such “rules of physical contact” exist only by reference to a variable cultural standard. While there are objective ethical criteria with respect to certain species of physical contact, such as battery, sexual assault, pugilistics, self-defense, and the like – the panorama of personal physical touching is vast, and implicated therein are a variety of culturally and parentally determined protocols such as courtship (e.g. hugging and “petting”), camaraderie (a pat on the back, a hug, or a slap on the buttocks), social greetings (handshakes), accolades (“high-fives”), and similar forms. Who shall be the arbiter of when a hug becomes a pet? Shall a school principal bear the responsibility of being the “decider” about when a slap on the buttocks is a “joke” vs. a congratulation vs. a sexual assault?

Yes, students need “socialization”, which I would define as education in the meaning and varieties of proper and improper words and actions among those in a civil community. And yes, there is surely an “American” species of culture that is worthy of protection and promotion. But public schools have neither the mission nor the ability to conduct formal educational exercises toward the attainment of this goal. Responsibility for the ethical training of students in the management of the expressions of their libidinal and aggressive feelings lies with the family.

School behavior codes exist to further the purpose of the institutions – education of students in a curriculum of identifiable academic and vocational scientiae, and not in the nebulous realm of someone’s programmatic “socialization”.

Is a prohibition against all physical contact onerous? Yes. As equally onerous as getting out of bed promptly each day, toiling over lessons, remaining seated and at attention during classroom teaching, memorizing important words and concepts – all of the tedious requirements of learning, in general.

It is my estimation that a prohibition against all physical contact is not so burdensome as to undermine the humanity of students who should be fully-engaged in a process that will greatly determine their life-success and final happiness. Human nature is such that physical expressions of friendship, love, anger, and loathing will find their vent outside the classroom walls.

The question that remains, of course, is Who will guide children and adolescents toward a virtuous understanding of propriety and occasion? My vote: not the public schools.

I applaud the courage of the Kilmer Middle School in recognizing its responsibilities and limitations.

How did we older folks ever survive without "no touching" rules? For that matter, how did civilization survive?

This is what happens when people without any management or administrative skills, not to mention common sense, are in positions of authority. This is a rule for the sake of having a rule.

This is a "first cousin" to my personal favorite...The Zero Toleralce Rule. This is where kids are suspended for 10 days for bringing aspirin to school which is the same sentence as bringing heroin. As much as they would like to distinguish between the two, they can't because they have a zero tolerance rule.

My second favotite is being suspended for 10 days if you dare to defend yourself from someone attacking, and beating the crap, out of you. As much as they would like to distinguish between the attacker and the one trying to save his/her own life they can't because there is, of course, a zero tolerance rule in affect.

Every school in the country is "built for 850 students, but houses 1,100". So what? While some may comment that they applaud the courage of Kilmer Middle School, I'd like to go on record that I loath their stupidity and their cowardice.

but then again, I may live closer to la-la land than you do. It's part of why I read RedState every weekday: It keeps me sane living this close to the source of chaos.

As far as the next generation is concerned, those are minor threats compared to being driven TOTALLY INSANE by an older generation that prefers vastly overpowering blanket laws over actually explaining actual rules (and continues the tradition of justifying morals by saying "it's MORALS, alright!?", which only works when there's no internet to contradict them effectively; not saying morals are bad, just saying the older generation does a sad job standing up for them).

I'm ashamed that this is happening in a school within walking distance of my house. I dread the psychotic school system of DC spreading southwards; I'm glad my high school (and, to a slightly lesser extent, school board) has any idea how to treat students.

It sounds like you're a young person by your comments. Trust me when I tell you that these rules have nothing to do with the "older generation". It has everything to do with the way Liberals think. Always remember...Liberals know what's best for you.

Oddly enough, it's younger people, and women, who are more inclined to liberalism. If you want to take responsibility for yourself in life, I suggest that you become familiar with conservative ideology and don't blame older people for stupidity. There's plenty to go around at all age levels.