Student punished for hugging friends

MASCOUTAH, Ill., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The parents of a Mascoutah, Ill., middle school student who was punished for hugging her friends say they plan to ask the school board to clarify the rule.

Eighth-grader Megan Coulter said she was given a two-day after-school detention by Assistant Principal Randy Blakely after she hugged two friends goodbye, the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat reported Tuesday.

"I feel it is crazy," the student said. "I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend."

Superintendent Sam McGowen defended the decision, saying Blakely and Principal Bob Stone were following rules in the student handbook that forbid displays of affection.

"The principal and assistant principal who handled this were following the policy set out in the handbook," he said.

Melissa Coulter, the girl's mother, said she and her husband, Dean, wanted to contest the punishment, but they did not want to risk incurring further penalties for Megan if she missed detention.

She said they are planning to ask the school board at its Nov. 15 meeting to either reword the policy banning affectionate displays or to be more specific about what actions are barred by the rules.