Taylor says, “I would hold her waist… or sometimes my hands were just resting on her shoulders.”
Taylor says it was a hug that only lasted a couple of seconds, but school offiicals said that’s not what their students should be learning or doing at school.
The school’s president told Fox Chicago News the school has a safe and healthy environment for students to learn and it wants to keep it that way.
Taylor, a junior, admits that he and his freshman girlfriend were warned –in writing—about “multiple displays of affection”—including “kissing” and “full frontal hugs”.
But Taylor says his catholic school’s “PDA” policy is outdated.
The school’s handbook, that each student is given, states that St. Martin, among other things, will “not” tolerate verbal abuse, inappropriate displays of affection and distasteful language.
Taylor and his mother say “PDA” should be defined.
Taylor says he hasn’t seen his girlfriend since their suspensions. They will be back in school Wednesday, and he says he’ll welcome her with a big hug.
If schools in general spent their time worrying about bullying as much as they do about PDAs and weapons in school, the children would be happier and do a better job learning.
Private school; you don't like their rules, you go somewhere else. There's also nothing wrong with telling kids hands off of each other during school hours. That doesn't stop them from making out the minute they go home, but the school has every right to set expectations of behavior during school hours.
this is also going on in our public schools. google kids suspended for hugging. Everyone from teens to down syndrome students to elementary school kids.
He says he is going to give his girlfriend a big hug when he welcomes her back to school. If the do then kick them both out. peroid. If kids don't like the rules they should go elsewhere.
Rules which have no purpose are not rules, they are dictatorship. We have GOT to get educators in this country back to the job of education, not of dictating mindless edicts. The kids in a school are not going to start fornicating in public if they are allowed simple hugs between classes. The waste of time this ukase will cause both in its public defense and enforcement is mind-boggling. Teach the kids, stop any dangerous behavior, and try to give some moral or ethical guidance, but not this nonsense…
This is what bothers me most about this policy, and it is in both private and public schools: "The school’s president told Fox Chicago News the school has a safe and healthy environment for students to learn and it wants to keep it that way.
" I am unsure where a hug is unsafe and unhealthy.
You don't like the strict Catholic school rules? There is a simple solution and that is to go to the drug infested, rap driven and psychopathic public option. What are you waiting for?
As a Christian school administrator I can tell you that NO PDA means No touching… period. For all of you saying this is not a big deal, they have rights, blah blah blah… the reason private schools exist is because stuff like this is out of control in public schools. Little education – lots of drama. Parents put kids in private schools for education and character building. Get some character, kid. Keep your hands off her during school hours and on school grounds. Pretty simple.
Many public schools are enforcing this as well. This isn't just special to private schools. A hug will do what a fist never will, bond people. While schools "turn the other cheek" from bullies, they run amok over something that is healthy and normal.
Okay that was just a plain, stupid, and naive comment. Hugs bond people??? We're talking about two teenagers. A week or a month from now when they've "broken up" the bonding will be over. Get a clue!
Teens need not touch with displays of affection on any level at school.
Okay that was just a plain, stupid, and naive comment. Hugs bond people??? We're talking about two teenagers. A week or a month from now when they've "broken up" the bonding will be over. Get a clue!
Teens need not touch with displays of affection on any level at school.
And who says they have rights? Kids don't have the same rights as adults or thier mothers wouln't be able to make them eat broccoli. Other comments suggested bodning, or 5 year olds hugging….NOT THE POINT. There need to be rules at school, and kids don't get a say. They don't have the same rights as adults until they become adults. And if you don't think one thing leads to the next, you've never been a teenage boy.
If this was a public school, I would be up in arms about oppression, as most students in public school are forced, not by their parents, but by the government to be there. However, as a private school, they can set what rules they desire about PDA, and I cannot say a thing about it.
When I went to school, there was NO touching allowed – at all. I didn't agree but that was one of the rules. Suspension may be a little severe, but everybody has rules to follow. The hugging can wait until school's out. By the way, boys had to have haircuts, shirts tucked in, and belts and girls had to wear dresses back then.
My chem teacher in HS use to complain at the lines of "couples" going at each other before each class outside his door. His favorite line was, "I didn't kiss my wife like that when I left for the war!"
Go to public school. Simple as that. You chose to go to that school, you choose to obey the rules. Kudos to the school for having such a policy. More schools should follow suit!
Whiners! You'd been warned. If you were smart, you'd have kept away from the *appearance of any wrongdoing* (read your Bible!). But you're going to buck the system because you're a teenager and think you know everything (and your Mom isn't helping you here…). Since you're going to hug her when you both get back to school, I'm guessing you'll be facing another suspension.
I think this entire country is a little bit too uptight about everything and leaning toward nazi germany rules little by little…get a life and quit bitching about everything…good god.
I think this entire country is a little bit too uptight about everything and leaning toward nazi germany rules little by little…get a life and quit bitching about everything…good god.
Is this not still a free country? If the kid does not like the rule is he not free to go to another school? Did he not read the hand book before he enrolled? Does he not respect the authority he placed himself under?
The problem is with this kid and his mother not the school. They know the rules and they should expect to pay the price for breaking those rules. This is the problem today in our country nobody respects authority anymore. Yes we still have freedom in this country, yet to deserve and earn that freedom you must have the integrity to abide by the rules and laws and respect for the authority you have placed yourself under. Your still haveyour freedom to leave.
Did you even READ the article? It is a PRIVATE school, which is allowed to set its own rules and as a parent and student you are required to read the rules and sign a document stating you read them and understand the penalties for breaking them. PLUS, the kids were warned and written up multiple times for doing the exact same thing int he past. Do you get it? They were WARNED. I see you have a small kid, if you tell your child not to do something over and over again, and she/he still does it, do you not eventually punish them? Of course you do! its the same thing here. Do I think hugging is harmless? Yes, I do. But its a PRIVATE school therefore, you have to conform to their rules or you are free to go somewhere else.
And having lived in a former police state for 9 years I can tell you your remark is insulting to everyone who lived in one.
I agree with rules are rules and they must be followed. But this is what turns the youth away from Catholic or religious functions. You want the youth today to be more involved with their faith don’t tell them hugging is not appropriate. The times have changed and they need to adapt to changing society. I am not saying drastic changes.
"Warned multiple times" tells me that these kids weren't blindsided about the rules. Wait until after school. Yes, hugs are innocent; but don't do it at school if it isn't allowed. It shouldn't haven even come to a suspension. Sometimes I think the parents are worse than their children. I understand you want to fight for your children if you feel that they were wrongly disciplined. However, know when to drop back and allow the school system to do their jobs. These kids broke the rules..end of discussion. That should be the parents' focus.
Just more proof any idiot can get a teaching degree. Also those who do get a teaching degree and are horrible teachers get administration positions. Based on past experience Catholic schools should be watching their priests more than students hugging. it's no wonder U.S. Education both public/private is a national embarrassment!
kissing is a sign of affection, hugging though is not and I do not see how they should suspended for it. I hug my best friends all the time when I meet them.
Let me get this straight teenagers can't show any emotion. When young kids can't show positive emotions all these administrators are doing is fueling the fire for them to show negative emotions. Mark my words and I PRAY I AM WRONG but this is just setting up the next school disaster.
Welcome to the world of rules. Don't like 'em? Go to public school. Don't like THEIR rules? Drop out and follow your career path to its pinnacle of being HEAD janitor.
I think every student should hug another person and when they all get suspended they should throw ONE HELL OF A PARTY. Then they should do it again next week, and keep doing it until school is out in June.
School rules were given, a written warning had already been issued – and they are going to the school knowing what the rules are. If they don't like it, then leave. It's like people moving next to an airport then complaining about the noise. I don't get it.
My "ACLU" radar is going off big time on this, I smell a lawsuit despite the fact it is a PRIVATE SCHOOL and can set ANY rules it wants. Any chance the ACLU has to take down a religious organization or school of any kind they jump on.
And if he does welcome her with a "big hug", they should both be suspended again. Mom says to define PDA? Really? They were both warned verbally and in writing but continued the behavior anyway. The rules are not outdated. It's just sad that parents think we should redefine or lower our standards of conduct because "kids are different now." That's exactly the problem.
It's called discipline. The idea being that it's enforcement at this age will help kids to develop Self-discipline as adults. If mommy doesn't like the way the staff at the private school are treating her son – perhaps she should send her little angel to public school, where he could simply tell school officials to F*** off if he didn't like what they tell him to do. If I were those officials and he "welcomed her back with a big hug" after being warned and disciplined – He would be hit with a grade altering suspension or expulsion so fast it would make his spoiled, self entitled head spin.
So I guess the school can do that but does he really have an obligation to do as they want him to? He is under no moral obligation and you can agree with his rebellion and acknowledge the school has a right at the same time. He never signed unto a contract. Remember the rules laid out in the handbook say they will not tolerate verbal abuse, inappropriate displays of affection and distasteful language. However as the mother says if you don't define it than that is left up to the individual. I saw on the camp rules page of a camp I am going to similar subjective language (I have never seen anyone get in trouble before though).
Kevin Taylor
4 hours ago near Waukegan, IL.
I’m sure most of you are aware of what happened Tuesday evening on the 9 o’clock news. I’m here to clarify that I was not suspended for hugging. I received a one day suspension for consistently violating the excessive Public display of affection policy and for repeatedly ignoring the directions from SMdP staff. I also want to apologize to the staff, alumni, and students for my actions. They were unjust and selfish. I made a mistake. I am sorry for all the distractions and I hope you can all forgive me and put this behind us. I really do want to be part of this community again. It is a special place for me and I hope that I can return and be a part of this community in a positive way.
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What if a parent hugged their child at the school? What would the pnishment be then? 'Inappropriate' is much too broad a term.
If schools in general spent their time worrying about bullying as much as they do about PDAs and weapons in school, the children would be happier and do a better job learning.
Private school; you don't like their rules, you go somewhere else. There's also nothing wrong with telling kids hands off of each other during school hours. That doesn't stop them from making out the minute they go home, but the school has every right to set expectations of behavior during school hours.
this is also going on in our public schools. google kids suspended for hugging. Everyone from teens to down syndrome students to elementary school kids.
How come most Catholic women have short hair and are sorta ugly?
He says he is going to give his girlfriend a big hug when he welcomes her back to school. If the do then kick them both out. peroid. If kids don't like the rules they should go elsewhere.
Nothing about Catholicism is outdated. Only people looking to break the rules.
Rules which have no purpose are not rules, they are dictatorship. We have GOT to get educators in this country back to the job of education, not of dictating mindless edicts. The kids in a school are not going to start fornicating in public if they are allowed simple hugs between classes. The waste of time this ukase will cause both in its public defense and enforcement is mind-boggling. Teach the kids, stop any dangerous behavior, and try to give some moral or ethical guidance, but not this nonsense…
I need a hug.
Cynthia Segura I'd give you one, if Eric didn't mind, but Eric is a lot closer so I suggest you use him…
Were any of these people running this school ever young? So many terrible things going on in the world and they worry about a little hugging.
This is what bothers me most about this policy, and it is in both private and public schools: "The school’s president told Fox Chicago News the school has a safe and healthy environment for students to learn and it wants to keep it that way.
" I am unsure where a hug is unsafe and unhealthy.
You don't like the strict Catholic school rules? There is a simple solution and that is to go to the drug infested, rap driven and psychopathic public option. What are you waiting for?
As a Christian school administrator I can tell you that NO PDA means No touching… period. For all of you saying this is not a big deal, they have rights, blah blah blah… the reason private schools exist is because stuff like this is out of control in public schools. Little education – lots of drama. Parents put kids in private schools for education and character building. Get some character, kid. Keep your hands off her during school hours and on school grounds. Pretty simple.
Many public schools are enforcing this as well. This isn't just special to private schools. A hug will do what a fist never will, bond people. While schools "turn the other cheek" from bullies, they run amok over something that is healthy and normal.
Okay that was just a plain, stupid, and naive comment. Hugs bond people??? We're talking about two teenagers. A week or a month from now when they've "broken up" the bonding will be over. Get a clue!
Teens need not touch with displays of affection on any level at school.
Okay that was just a plain, stupid, and naive comment. Hugs bond people??? We're talking about two teenagers. A week or a month from now when they've "broken up" the bonding will be over. Get a clue!
Teens need not touch with displays of affection on any level at school.
PastorMarty Braemer What about 5 year olds at school???
And who says they have rights? Kids don't have the same rights as adults or thier mothers wouln't be able to make them eat broccoli. Other comments suggested bodning, or 5 year olds hugging….NOT THE POINT. There need to be rules at school, and kids don't get a say. They don't have the same rights as adults until they become adults. And if you don't think one thing leads to the next, you've never been a teenage boy.
Child should have known hugs are allowed by the priests only.
If this was a public school, I would be up in arms about oppression, as most students in public school are forced, not by their parents, but by the government to be there. However, as a private school, they can set what rules they desire about PDA, and I cannot say a thing about it.
google kids suspended for hugging. Prepare to take up arms lol
If you want to hug and play touchy feely go to a public school. They don't care what you do there as long as you don't pray or mention God.
you might want to google kids suspended for hugging, it is in the public schools as well.
When I went to school, there was NO touching allowed – at all. I didn't agree but that was one of the rules. Suspension may be a little severe, but everybody has rules to follow. The hugging can wait until school's out. By the way, boys had to have haircuts, shirts tucked in, and belts and girls had to wear dresses back then.
My chem teacher in HS use to complain at the lines of "couples" going at each other before each class outside his door. His favorite line was, "I didn't kiss my wife like that when I left for the war!"
Wow
Hillarious! LOL
Go to public school. Simple as that. You chose to go to that school, you choose to obey the rules. Kudos to the school for having such a policy. More schools should follow suit!
Whiners! You'd been warned. If you were smart, you'd have kept away from the *appearance of any wrongdoing* (read your Bible!). But you're going to buck the system because you're a teenager and think you know everything (and your Mom isn't helping you here…). Since you're going to hug her when you both get back to school, I'm guessing you'll be facing another suspension.
I think this entire country is a little bit too uptight about everything and leaning toward nazi germany rules little by little…get a life and quit bitching about everything…good god.
I think this entire country is a little bit too uptight about everything and leaning toward nazi germany rules little by little…get a life and quit bitching about everything…good god.
Is this not still a free country? If the kid does not like the rule is he not free to go to another school? Did he not read the hand book before he enrolled? Does he not respect the authority he placed himself under?
The problem is with this kid and his mother not the school. They know the rules and they should expect to pay the price for breaking those rules. This is the problem today in our country nobody respects authority anymore. Yes we still have freedom in this country, yet to deserve and earn that freedom you must have the integrity to abide by the rules and laws and respect for the authority you have placed yourself under. Your still haveyour freedom to leave.
Welcome to the Police State.
Did you even READ the article? It is a PRIVATE school, which is allowed to set its own rules and as a parent and student you are required to read the rules and sign a document stating you read them and understand the penalties for breaking them. PLUS, the kids were warned and written up multiple times for doing the exact same thing int he past. Do you get it? They were WARNED. I see you have a small kid, if you tell your child not to do something over and over again, and she/he still does it, do you not eventually punish them? Of course you do! its the same thing here. Do I think hugging is harmless? Yes, I do. But its a PRIVATE school therefore, you have to conform to their rules or you are free to go somewhere else.
And having lived in a former police state for 9 years I can tell you your remark is insulting to everyone who lived in one.
I agree with rules are rules and they must be followed. But this is what turns the youth away from Catholic or religious functions. You want the youth today to be more involved with their faith don’t tell them hugging is not appropriate. The times have changed and they need to adapt to changing society. I am not saying drastic changes.
"Warned multiple times" tells me that these kids weren't blindsided about the rules. Wait until after school. Yes, hugs are innocent; but don't do it at school if it isn't allowed. It shouldn't haven even come to a suspension. Sometimes I think the parents are worse than their children. I understand you want to fight for your children if you feel that they were wrongly disciplined. However, know when to drop back and allow the school system to do their jobs. These kids broke the rules..end of discussion. That should be the parents' focus.
Just more proof any idiot can get a teaching degree. Also those who do get a teaching degree and are horrible teachers get administration positions. Based on past experience Catholic schools should be watching their priests more than students hugging. it's no wonder U.S. Education both public/private is a national embarrassment!
kissing is a sign of affection, hugging though is not and I do not see how they should suspended for it. I hug my best friends all the time when I meet them.
Let me get this straight teenagers can't show any emotion. When young kids can't show positive emotions all these administrators are doing is fueling the fire for them to show negative emotions. Mark my words and I PRAY I AM WRONG but this is just setting up the next school disaster.
Welcome to the world of rules. Don't like 'em? Go to public school. Don't like THEIR rules? Drop out and follow your career path to its pinnacle of being HEAD janitor.
I think every student should hug another person and when they all get suspended they should throw ONE HELL OF A PARTY. Then they should do it again next week, and keep doing it until school is out in June.
School rules were given, a written warning had already been issued – and they are going to the school knowing what the rules are. If they don't like it, then leave. It's like people moving next to an airport then complaining about the noise. I don't get it.
My "ACLU" radar is going off big time on this, I smell a lawsuit despite the fact it is a PRIVATE SCHOOL and can set ANY rules it wants. Any chance the ACLU has to take down a religious organization or school of any kind they jump on.
And if he does welcome her with a "big hug", they should both be suspended again. Mom says to define PDA? Really? They were both warned verbally and in writing but continued the behavior anyway. The rules are not outdated. It's just sad that parents think we should redefine or lower our standards of conduct because "kids are different now." That's exactly the problem.
I LOVE your comment!
But I just betcha that a hug between a Catholic Priest and a young boy would have been totally within the rules…
It's called discipline. The idea being that it's enforcement at this age will help kids to develop Self-discipline as adults. If mommy doesn't like the way the staff at the private school are treating her son – perhaps she should send her little angel to public school, where he could simply tell school officials to F*** off if he didn't like what they tell him to do. If I were those officials and he "welcomed her back with a big hug" after being warned and disciplined – He would be hit with a grade altering suspension or expulsion so fast it would make his spoiled, self entitled head spin.
Truly dumb…
So I guess the school can do that but does he really have an obligation to do as they want him to? He is under no moral obligation and you can agree with his rebellion and acknowledge the school has a right at the same time. He never signed unto a contract. Remember the rules laid out in the handbook say they will not tolerate verbal abuse, inappropriate displays of affection and distasteful language. However as the mother says if you don't define it than that is left up to the individual. I saw on the camp rules page of a camp I am going to similar subjective language (I have never seen anyone get in trouble before though).
Looks like boy changed his tune.
Kevin Taylor
4 hours ago near Waukegan, IL.
I’m sure most of you are aware of what happened Tuesday evening on the 9 o’clock news. I’m here to clarify that I was not suspended for hugging. I received a one day suspension for consistently violating the excessive Public display of affection policy and for repeatedly ignoring the directions from SMdP staff. I also want to apologize to the staff, alumni, and students for my actions. They were unjust and selfish. I made a mistake. I am sorry for all the distractions and I hope you can all forgive me and put this behind us. I really do want to be part of this community again. It is a special place for me and I hope that I can return and be a part of this community in a positive way.
The children should follow the rules. If you want to appeal the rule, go ahead. But in the meantime, obey the authorities.