In a move that will surely boost enrollment at private schools in the area, an Illinois eighth-grader was given two days detention for hugging.

Mascoutah Middle School handed down the sentence to 13-year-old Megan Coulter for giving two friends a squeeze before parting ways for the weekend.

Hugging? Seriously? That’s what schools are worried about these days? Really?It’s no wonder a large portion of schools in the United States can’t meet the standard education requirements set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the middle school’s student handbook, “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.”

Apparently, hugging a friend good-bye shows a complete lack of morals and brings much shame on your school. I had no idea.Sacramento State must live in a super-sized state of sin.

I’d hate to think what kind of punishment I’d get for giving my girlfriend a kiss before class.

On a serious note, though, what kind of message is this sending the youth?

It’s one thing to toss around threats like this in an attempt to dissuade children from making-out on the school steps, but it’s another to start handing out detention for what Coulter’s mother described as an arm around the shoulder and a slight squeeze.

Too many teenage kids are already incredibly disrespectful to their peers – if you don’t believe me, try riding the light rail for a week – and to actually impress the idea that any display of affection “reflects poor judgment” seems rather damaging.

Part of Mascoutah Middle School’s mission statement reads they “provide the opportunity for early adolescents to attain their individual, social, emotional and physical potential.” They go on to say, “quality education will be provided for all students through teamwork and cooperation resulting in their development into mature, productive citizens.”

How can they say this stuff and keep a straight face?

How can you provide “early adolescents” with any kind of social skills and help them develop into “mature, productive citizens” when they live in fear of being punished for something as simple as a hug?CSUS Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Child Development Dr. Karen Davis O’Hara feels a no PDA rule is beneficial at the junior high level; however, only in terms of sexual behavior, not hugging.

“To enforce [the rule] at the level of innocent hugging is communicating that there is something sexually inappropriate about hugging,” said O’Hara. “Punishing the child for hugging can lead to the child thinking there is something wrong, or sexual, when a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, etc. wants to give them a hug.”

Talk about screwing kids up. I thought it was the mother’s place to do that kind of handy work.

Apparently, some middle schools are hoping to not only provide students with a foundation for high school, but supply them with enough neuroses to ruin future intimate relationships as well.

I can only hope rules this asinine stop at the Illinois border.

Jake Corbin can be reached at [email protected]