Male Teacher tried to hug 7th grader in class!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, if he didn't actually hug her, what is the problem exactly?

OP's religion prohibits males from touching females above a certain age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about high school seniors?
Should teachers not even hug them on their last day in school? Are you serious?

Maybe quickly and with many witnesses. And only if other male colleagues were also doing it to a degree. Don't want to be the only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high school seniors?
Should teachers not even hug them on their last day in school? Are you serious?

Maybe quickly and with many witnesses. And only if other male colleagues were also doing it to a degree. Don't want to be the only one.

Seriously? I’m a female teacher and I hug male students - not often but at the end of the year before summer break or when they are seniors and have their last day of school. Or when they get into a college they are excited about. Y’all are over the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about high school seniors?
Should teachers not even hug them on their last day in school? Are you serious?

Maybe quickly and with many witnesses. And only if other male colleagues were also doing it to a degree. Don't want to be the only one.

Seriously? I’m a female teacher and I hug male students - not often but at the end of the year before summer break or when they are seniors and have their last day of school. Or when they get into a college they are excited about. Y’all are over the top.

Female teachers aren't presumed to be predators in disguise the same way.

[Anonymous]

Male para here. One of our MS kids gave me a hug on their first day back to school this year. I have to say I felt a little awkward about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, if he didn't actually hug her, what is the problem exactly?

OP's religion prohibits males from touching females above a certain age.

Ok, but he didn't touch her in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actual MCPS policy below. Hugging is squarely between "appropriate" and "inappropriate". As one expects, MCPS avoids clarity wherever possible.

Do not engage in inappropriate physical interactions with students, such as—
• Hitting, tickling, or kissing;
• Fondling any part of a student’s body;
• Any type of massage given by or to a child; and
• Sending offensive or sexually explicit pictures, notes, cartoons, or jokes.

NOTE: Certain touches may be appropriate in particular circumstances, such as a pat on the back or shoulder,
handshakes, high fives, or holding the hand of younger children to guide or escort them

I must say, a lot of elementary staff would be in trouble if hugging wasn't allowed. I see a number of students initiating hugs toward staff. The staff usually hug back but with one arm only. It's quick, caring is reciprocated but no inappropriate touch is exchanged.

Not everyone has ill intent.and the policy does not state no touch. It is sad sick people have caused innocent exchanges to be seen as wrong.

At the same time, OP's daughter had a right to self-advocate and religious boundaries should be taught to staff.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the idea of emailing the principal to give them the information-- also include that the teacher apologized. At a minimum, the teacher needs a head's up on district policy. And this also helps the principal track whether this is a regular occurrence, etc.

That said, I've seen my middle school dd get/receive hugs from several different teachers (all female, but then most of her teachers are female). I recall being surprised because I thought teachers would be more careful. But also, my dd loved the nurture and attention.

It's possible that my dd was generally the one initiating the hug. I recall one where the teachers clearly initiated, but it was kind of outstretched arms and an invitation for dd to approach and hug. But I definitely saw hugs (after performances, last day of school, once at a random meeting at Starbucks).

FWIW, I'd make a big distinction between the above situation where teacher outstretches arms and invites the kid to move into a hug versus the teacher moving in and hugging without the kid stepping into the hug.

[Anonymous]

Teacher should be fired and put on the watch list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, if he didn't actually hug her, what is the problem exactly?

OP's religion prohibits males from touching females above a certain age.

It’s very hard to enforce that in a majority non-Muslim school system.

If the OP has such strong feelings about this prohibition, it might be better to have her daughter attend a Muslim school that respects her religion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher should be fired and put on the watch list

LOL

[Anonymous]

Luke 5:12-16, we read that Jesus went up to a leper and touched him.

Jesus would be in trouble today for doing this MCPS would put him on leave

[Anonymous]

Teacher should have made this mistake only once, only once in his career. It's not bad human behavior, not in the least. But he does not get to make up his own rules. There exists policy and rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luke 5:12-16, we read that Jesus went up to a leper and touched him.

Jesus would be in trouble today for doing this MCPS would put him on leave

Not really worried until Jesus walks into an MCPS school. Of course, security wouldn't let him in anyway.

[jsteele]

The OP of this thread quickly grew disillusioned with DCUM and, I expect, has abandoned the forum. So I am going to lock this thread.