Recently a small child was banned from school in America for hugging a teacher.
A client of mine who is has been a primary school teacher for many years has spoken to me of the frustration of not being allowed to hug small children when upset- although she does ignore the ruling at times.

I know that the ruling tries to protect teachers being falsely accused of sexual abuse, but 'baby and bathwater' spring to mind.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1982475,00.htmlnull

Last edited: 4-01-2007 04:50:01 PM

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I read the article ..very disturbing trend ....but then in such a litiguous society this sort of thing is sadly predictable.

Fear it sems is the first thing to have its say......how long does it take for reason to prevail.

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My sister in law works in a unit close to one providing employment for adults with special needs. She visits regularly, taking them gifts of cookies and hand made greetings cards and spends time there. She has always hugged the people who are happy with it.

Last month she was approached by a very embarrassed volunteer, who asked her to stop the hugs. Apparently one of the project workers had let it be known how friendly she was to the bosses.

Needless to say she was devastated.

Now the hugs are a secret.

What nonsense is this?

Walk with light

Irene

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God help us all.

We are - as Andrew Harvey very adequately put it: "All starving to death in the concentration camp of reason".

Soon there won't be any babies or bathwater left - as the reductionists remove or legislate against every possible factor of error from the plane of human existence.

Thing is, I don't really like hugging. But I do want to be able to do it on those rare occasions when it seems appropriate within the confines of my stiff upper-lipped, British/Chinese conditioning.

Truth is though - you're free to hug who you damn well like. But life is a game of consequences. So a slap (physical or legislative) could easily follow if you do not use - the better part of valour - your discretion.

Hugging is overrated; love takes many forms...

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I'm not particularly fond of hugs either - being quite a private person - and rarely hug spontaneously. On those occasions when I meet someone who hugs readily, it's easy and I love them for their ability to be as they are. They light up my day.

But how did we get to confuse with hugs and the human touch with 'inappropriate behaviour'?

Alison

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Hugs should be compulsory!

There is nothing better than a well meant hug from someone who cares, even though love takes many forms, having someone project that through touch is irreplacable.

The same goes for the importnace on skin to skin contact for newborns and constant love and attention throughout a childs formative years. I hug can transmit love, healing and a whole raft of emotions through on esimple act.

If you want to go down that route, consider it a merging of energy fields in the strongest possible form. Looking at nature, most animals uses close contact to forge bonds too.

Carl, you want to be able to do it, lose your conditioning and wrap your arms around someone. You and the huggee will both feel better. Trust me!

Who up for a hugging workshop/party in the summer ? Carl, you get a free pass to this one....

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Can't live without lots and lots of hugs! Will join you at your party Asif x

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I think that we can all find reasons to agree that banning hugs is a step in the wrong direction - and to shake our heads at the 'madness'.

But what happens when it comes to doing something about it?

If you were given a position in government and a remit to reverse the process - what would you do? Where would you focus your attention?

Alison

Therapist Coaching

Last edited: 19-04-2007 01:44:25 PM

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