Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for March 2, 2008 GROUP HUG

One thousand one, one thousand two...Okay, STOP...break it up!

Flashback to the 1980s...

Employees of Cairo School District Number One were ordered to assemble in the CHS cafeteria to receive indoctrination by educational gurus...from MESA, Arizona...to teach us how to teach...to raise test scores. (Yeah, way back then!)

The District should have gotten a refund...

Why? Because the "gurus" held out on us...didn't share their REAL secret to success...CHEATING. THAT would be exposed years later...after we had already suffered the slings and arrows of degradation!

Funny thing...I still remember one of the guru's advice...that we needed to give out more hugs...that students (and she was talking to the high school teachers at the time)...that students needed more love and affection from their teachers...the guru who was wearing a short skirt and plunging neckline as she spoke. Since you have already been told how "resistant to change" the high school staff is, you would be right to suspect that we respectfully declined the guru's advice. (Hey, we bit our tongues, rolled our eyes, and moved on to the next session. That's as respectful as it gets...)

Anyway...it appears that MESA has changed its position on signs of affection...at least "in house". MESA has now implemented a policy that might be termed "hugus interruptus"...two seconds and you're done...only "quickies" allowed!

Dang, where's the love???

Teachers...start your stop watches!

Students Don't Embrace 'Public Display Of Affection' Policy

MESA, Ariz. -- A school policy banning student hugging prompted dozens of east Valley students to protest with a giant group hug across the street from campus.

"I think it's ridiculous," said Chelsea Branham, a 14-year-old student at Shepherd Junior High School in east Mesa.

Branham said she got detention this week for hugging her friend after school.

"It's not like it's supposed to mean anything," she said. "It's not like I was making out with him or something."

Branham joined her classmates on Friday for a 20-minute, public hug-a-thon.

"She's taking a stand and I'm standing behind her to do it," said Stephanie Wiegold, her mother.

The "no-hugging" rule had previously been in the student handbook. After many students began expressing concern about public hugging and kissing in the hallways, the school began reinforcing the guideline by punishing huggers, which led to Friday's protest.

Prior to the demonstration, the district said the principal and students brokered an agreement to clarify the "no-hugging" rule. According to the guidelines, small hugs, less than two seconds, are permitted but longer ones and kissing are not.

"We can only hug two seconds? That's ridiculous," Branham said. "It's barely even a hug."

"What we're doing here is hoping to help kids understand what's happening," said Kathy Bareiss of Mesa public schools.

The district said a list of acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors will be handed out to students on Monday.