MASCOUTAH, Ill. - Two hugs equals two days of detention for 13-year-old Megan Coulter. The eighth-grader was punished for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection when she hugged two friends Friday.


"I feel it is crazy," said Megan, who was to serve her second detention Tuesday after classes at Mascoutah Middle School.

"I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend," she said.

Megan's mother, Melissa Coulter, said the embraces weren't even real hugs — just an arm around the shoulder and slight squeeze.

"It's hilarious to the point of ridicule," Coulter said. "I'm still dumbfounded that she's having to do this."

District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook.

It states: "Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved."

Coulter said she and her husband told their daughter to go ahead and serve her detentions because the only other option was a day of suspension for each skipped detention.

"We don't agree with it, but I certainly don't want her to get in more trouble," Coulter said.

The couple plan to attend the next school board meeting to ask board members to consider rewording the policy or be more specific in what is considered a display of affection.

"I'm just hoping the school board will open their eyes and just realize that maybe they shouldn't be punishing us for hugs," Megan said.

Strict no-contact rule, meant to stem violence, has some pushing for change

VIENNA, Va. - A rule against physical contact at a Fairfax County middle
school is so strict that students can be sent to the principal's office for
hugging, holding hands or even high-fiving.

Unlike some schools in the Washington area, which ban fighting or
inappropriate touching, Kilmer Middle School in Vienna bans all touching —
and that has some parents lobbying for a change.

Hugging was Hal Beaulieu's crime when he sat next to his girlfriend at lunch
a few months ago and put his arm around her shoulder. He was given a
warning, but told that repeat missteps could lead to detention.

"I think hugging is a good thing," said Hal, a seventh-grader. "I put my arm
around her. It was like for 15 seconds. I didn't think it would be a big
deal."

But at a school of 1,100 students that was meant to accommodate 850, school
officials think some touching can turn into a big deal. They've seen pokes
lead to fights, gang signs in the form of handshakes or girls who are
uncomfortable being hugged but embarrassed to say anything.

"You get into shades of gray," Kilmer Principal Deborah Hernandez said. "The
kids say, 'If he can high-five, then I can do this.' "

Hernandez said the no-touching rule is meant to ensure that all students are
comfortable and crowded hallways and lunchrooms stay safe. She said school
officials are allowed to use their judgment in enforcing the rule.
Typically, only repeat offenders are reprimanded.

'Making out goes too far'

But such a strict policy doesn't seem necessary to 13-year-old Hal and his
parents, who have written a letter to the county school board asking for a
review of the rule. Hugging is encouraged in their home, and their son has
been taught to greet someone with a handshake.

Hal said he feels he knows what's appropriate and what's not.

"I think you should be able to shake hands, high-five and maybe a quick
hug," he said. "Making out goes too far."

His parents said they agree that teenagers need to have clear limits but
don't want their son to be taught that physical contact is bad.

"How do kids learn what's right and what's wrong?" Henri Beaulieu asked.
"They are all smart kids, and they can draw lines. If they cross them, they
can get in trouble. But I don't think it would happen too often."