Parents are outraged after secondary school students were told they couldn’t hug, high-five, or shake hands with each other due to a strict “no contact” policy.
Students at Mossley Hollins High School in Greater Manchester have also been prohibited from sitting on overcrowded benches, playing fights, or even holding a place in the lunch line for friends.
‘No student should ever touch another student,’ according to the latest newsletter from Mrs Andrea Din’s Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne school.
After she had to ask a teacher for permission for a friend to hug her after she hurt herself, a current student slammed the rules as “ridiculous” and “unfair.”
‘I’m a current student at this school, and I was in a lesson, and I hurt my fingers,’ she wrote on Facebook.
‘Did my next-door neighbor have to ask my teacher permission to hug me?
‘I just think it’s ridiculous that you have to ask for permission to hug your friend?’
Parents have also expressed their displeasure, accusing the 854-student co-ed school of turning its students into “robots.”
The rule will ‘further improve our positive school culture,’ according to the school, by making students ‘good citizens’ and encouraging them to have’mutual respect for each other.’
According to the Manchester Evening News, a former student said the rules were “not going down very well” with students and made them feel “pressured.”
‘I used to go to the school, and I still know people there,’ Emma Halpin, who graduated in 2019, said. From what I’ve seen, no one appears to be in favor of it.
‘It doesn’t appear to be going over too well. ‘So far, the rules have put a lot of pressure on a lot of students.’
The strict rule has sparked outrage on social media, with one commenter declaring: ‘This is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen in my life!’ Wow!
‘Teaching children not to show affection to their friends is a sure way to cause them problems later on.’
‘I would be furious if my child attended this school.’
‘Physical contact is such a big part of peer relationships like hugs when upset or celebrating, holding hands with best friends, high five as a greeting, and shaking hands in a formal setting,’ Katie Teasdale wrote on Facebook.
‘This may have been implemented as a safeguarding measure to prevent unwanted physical contact, but that should be handled on a case-by-case basis rather than as a blanket rule that applies to the entire school.’
‘So all pupils should be… robots with no human touch,’ Bill Williams said. That is bizarre, controlling behavior from a deranged institution.’
‘Complete failure to understand human needs and behavior,’ Matthew Nicholls said. It’s as if these people aren’t truly human and don’t understand how to interact with others.’
‘Under these rules, children will grow up with a distinct lack of drive, as well as a lack of interaction and confrontational skills,’ David Mayor said.
‘It’s usually better to do this in the school yard rather than going to karate classes.’ I’m just curious about the consequences of breaking these rules.’
‘This trial no contact policy builds on over 25 years of our no contact practice,’ a Mossley Hollins High School spokesperson said. It is not new, but it is now more clear.
‘It aims to ensure that all students have their own personal space, and it comes at a time when so many young students missed out on this excellent practice in primary school and are learning to socialize effectively again.’
‘We’ve taken our years of experience and turned it into an easy-to-follow policy to assist our younger students.’ Although the school’s behavior has always been excellent, students and staff say the atmosphere is now even calmer, friendlier, and kinder than before.
‘We will be monitoring the policy’s impact on healthy play and dialogue outside during break and lunchtime, and we always listen to good ideas when they are communicated to us through the proper channels,’ says the company.
‘To further improve our school culture, there is now a no contact rule in place,’ the school said in its announcement. This means that no student should touch another student at any time.
‘No carrying, cuddling, or playfighting of other students will be tolerated.’ Respect must be shown to others by students. At all times, all students should demonstrate good school citizenship (including breaktime and lunchtime).
‘Success requires the qualities of respect, helping others, and adhering to all school rules.’
‘This new rule has been implemented to ensure that everyone feels safe in school, has a supportive environment in and out of lessons, demonstrates mutual respect and is kind to one another, has a positive attitude toward one another, and has healthy relationships with their peers,’ the statement continued.
‘What does ‘no contact’ actually mean for our students?’ is the question posed under the heading. ‘Always be safe by being careful and showing courtesy,’ the school advised students. ‘No toy fighting or rough play,’ it said, adding, ‘Never push or pull others.’
‘Be careful with your hands and feet. It is forbidden to make physical contact with others or to verbally abuse them. There will be no jumping on each other, cuddling, or carrying each other. There will be no throwing of any objects. When queuing for lunch, there will be no holding places or jumping in line. Sit on benches properly and don’t overcrowd.’
‘This new rule has been made very clear to all of our students so that they are all aware of it,’ it concluded. This week, teaching and support staff gave presentations outlining our expectations so that all students are aware of why we are enforcing this rule.
Following its most recent Oftsed inspection in November 2014, the school, whose Latin motto is Floret Qui Laborat, which means ‘He or she who labors prospers,’ was rated outstanding.