hugging, etc.

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hugging, etc.
By Maggie

I think it's ridiculous to fire a teacher because a child or children sat on his lap during reading time. Next we are going to be told that it's inappropriate for children in third grade and higher to sit on Santa's lap!

Personally, I think that his being a guy put him as a suspect. It's a double standard. If a woman teacher had a couple of kids sit on her lap during reading time, would she have been fired?
I have taught various grade levels from 1-5. Some children want to have physical contact--to be hugged, even in grade 5--and others hate it when you touch them. I learn very early on which

ones they are.

I once worked with a very wonderful teacher. His classes were very pleasant communities of learners. He had a terrific rapport with his students, even hugging them. He was fired when he took it a little too far and kissed one of them one day.

In the end, I would say that it's only fair when a teacher is hired to let the teachers know what the exact policies are with regard to showing affection for students. Without that policy being spelled out and handed out, I would think that the firing would be hard to justify.