I weep for our future

A news story ran today about an Arizona junior high school that has banned hugs over two seconds. School officials are concerned about excessive groping and sexual assault.

A couple of months ago, a school district in Colorado banned tag. Some students had told teachers that they were being bullied into being chased around the yard.

In a Texas elementary school, a boy in his third period class discovered that the three-inch pocketknife he had taken to his last Boy Scout meeting was still inside his coat - a definite no-no under the school's zero-tolerance policy. Unsure what to do, he consulted a friend before putting the knife in his locker. The friend turned him in and, after lunch, police arrested him and took him to a juvenile-detention center without contacting his parents.

In all three of these cases, schools are using sweeping policies and enforcement rather than education and common sense. Schools are in the business of education, and when they choose alternative methods of dealing with their students, they are teaching lessons of which we, as a society, should be fearful. So, what are those lessons?

"Affection is a bad thing; it is shameful and should be hidden." The result of this is that more and more young people will not share their feelings and activities with their teachers and parents, and as a result, they are likely to make bad decisions — unwanted pregnancies, abusive relationships, etc.

"If you have a problem with somebody, don't talk to them about it." And the corollary "Tag is bad." What this gives us is a society of more litigation, notes left by roommates on refrigerator doors, and snitches. Also, less tag, which is perhaps the most dire of consequences. Seriously, who among you has played tag recently? It's a great game that I can't go more than a month or so without playing. Get out on the streets and play.

"Don't ask, don't tell." Sound familiar. Now we have fourth graders being placed in the position of ratting on their friends, keeping things from their friends and teachers and being treated like criminals for behavior that is clearly not criminal. Ever gone through airport security thinking you were going to breeze through only to discover that your Swiss Army knife was still in the zippered, outside pocket of your backpack? How many of you think you should spend a day in jail for that?

"Problems should be dealt with by making more laws rather than talking to people." So we have a problem with bullying in a school. This should be an opportunity to educate about bullies, how to deal with them, etc. Instead the district legislates with the downstream potential to litigate. These kids will grow up and make more laws in lieu of dialogue.

I truly weep for our future. My advice to all of you with children in this nation's school system: Get involved. Today. Talk to your kid and tell them that it's okay to hug, it's not a sin to play tag, don't be afraid to share things with your friends and your teachers, and don't worry if you go to school with your pocket knife in your pocket. But don't forget to warn them, however, that these actions may land them i juvenile hall for the night.

— Stephen