Aussie girl gets detention for hugging, headmaster claims hugs 'can bruise ribs'
1st Nov 2012 9:27am | By Editor
It turns out hugs aren’t free after a 12-year-old Western Australian girl was given a detention for giving her classmate a hug after the school bell rang due to a blanket rule banning any form of embrace.
The WA Department of Education has confirmed the rule is a real one at Adam Road Primary School in Bunbury, explaining that it was introduced after case of “excessive hugging” left some kids bruised and other feeling excluded.
Acting principal Gemma Preston told news.com.au: "We introduced a rule about hugging last year after parents complained about their children being hurt by excessive hugging.
"Some children received bruised ribs from an over-enthusiastic hug.
"The rule was reinforced with our Year 6 and 7 students again last week during a general talk about being role models for the younger students.”
Heidi Rome, whose daughter Amber was given detention after hugging a friend, demanded an apology, despite the ‘incident’ taking place two hours after the rule was reinforced to students.
Rome thinks the rule is "silly” and “ridiculous”.
"It's a really good school that's just got a silly rule that I'm wanting to try and change," she added.
Image via Getty
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