Your say: School's 'one-metre apart' rule

Stuff readers have their say on an Auckland school's rule that students of the opposite sex have to keep one metre apart.

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What do you think? Click here or email editorial@stuff.co.nz to send us your feedback

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RE: Not too close: College's 'metre apart rule'

Feedback (latest posts at top):

I think the one-metre rule is a great idea. But it has not gone far enough! The should all have to wear a paper bag over their head to avoid temptation.
Tony Williams

Why doesn't the school offer sex ed instead? What a nuisance of a school imposing it's antiquated morals on children of the 21st century.
Guy McCallum

Here's an equally ridiculous thing, but at least it will alarm the trustees:  "Does anyone think this encourages homosexuality?"
John Curtis   

I think it's a great idea. But only for the "boyfriend and girlfriend" type scenarios. School kids should not be showing affection publically, especially in front of younger children in the same school. It's school, not sex camp. Stuff the liberals, they're all baby murderers and want to treat little girls like adults so if this rule prevents one abortion then it is worth it.
J. Luke

Is it just me or are we just becoming a little too PC? Unless we are looking for reasons to set our kids to be absolute role models to the world, then what a boring life they would have!  At school you are supposed to break the rules, despise the teachers for giving you too much homework, have your heart broken and mended by so many, be the Rugby Hero or the Class Clown, that's what's made our society so unique and so wonderful and why we have so many leaders produced from within the classrooms. It's these characters that shape what we do and how it shapes our future amongst everyone in this country.  I for one hope that the staff and B.O.T. members that make these rules think before destroying a way of life unique to Kiwis instead of trying to create a culture that not ours. Beacuse at the end of the day this is why we have all gone to school, not just to learn but to learn lifeskills that set us up for life, not for segregation of the sexes.
Jerome Mahutoto

Stupid, stupid, stupid people. The instigators of this travesty should quietly resign, take themselves off to a psychiatrist, and say "excuse me doctor, I think I have a problem."
Doug Kain

Dang me what a bunch of tripe you people write. I always thought school was for learning and I fully agree with any rule that prohibits behavior that interferes with that. What is Rebecca Papprill's problem? The rule has apparently been at the school for ages, it has also apparently in other schools for ages. I agree with Cait James, it's a non-story. It's this sort of rubbish that gets Sue Bradford writing private members' bills.
Rob Holding

I went to this school. It is a running injoke and is no more than that.  It's never actually used seriously (though it's a great gag for skits and assembly items and the like).
Dean

Interaction between boys and girls, especially during the teen years is very important. Another stupid "interfere with our lives" rule!!
Mags Baz Ben

This is typical of school teachers/principals that live their lives in school (as a student, then at teachers college, then back to school as a teacher). They often never fully experience the real world, so they think that setting rules like this is somehow good for kids. School is supposed to be about teaching kids how to operate in the real world. How is this rule relevant in the real world? These teachers obviously think they are acting in the best interests of the kids, but perhaps the parents need to give them a reality check. Teachers should stick to teaching reading, writing and arithmetic and not attempt to mould children's social behaviour according to their warped view of life.
Regan

How would the one-metre rule be enforced in an assembly situation? School halls will have to made so much larger!
Gabrielle

Does each student now have to carry a one metre ruler to ensure that the maintain the correct distance from each other.
Bill Munro

This story infuriates me! I attended Macleans College for five years and don't recall, even on one occasion, a student being pulled up on this. It is a precautionary thing that lets students know that any 'hanky panky' is not accepted and therefore is usually avoided through fear of punishment. How could they inforce such rule in classes such as P.E, our when we are crammed into assemblies. This is just ridiculous. Macleans College produces fine individuals and that is a direct result of the values they uphold.
Cait James
 

Our society certainly has some very screwed-up attitudes, when a school thinks it needs to enforce a separation distance rule to segregate the sexes at school. As others have said, such a rule clearly shows the entrenched attitudes held within our society.  The assumption of universal heterosexuality, that physical contact between members of the opposite sex will lead to uncontrollable urges to go further, why, next thing you know they'll be needing to install a crèche for all the resulting children!  Wait, of course, they already have those, so obviously they're too late... What might be more appropriate here are guidelines on what is socially appropriate at school, rather than an obviously stupid rule.  Students can smell hypocrisy a mile away, these sorts of rules most definitely fail the sniff test!
Steve

Certainly we must have lost all prespective in some of our schools. What message is the school trying to send, what behaviour are we trying to cement with students. Schools are a learning centre, students need and have to interact during this time. One metre apart during break time... maybe we will see students carrying Personal Space Measuring Sticks (PSMS) so that they can ensure correct spacing during class time. Hey maybe this can be part of the NCEA make-up. "Students will be encouraged to decorate their PSMS. This is will worth 5 credits." Give me strength, Schools stick to your knitting.
Rowan Savage

For this too make any sense at all, the male teachers would have too stand one metre away from a female student at all times. Even when she is just innocently wanting help with her maths book, she is going too have too chuck it a metre away from her. Same goes for male students, and female teachers. Also this is unfair of straight kids. Straight kids are forced too not be aloud too show affection, while the gay kids get an rule bent for them.
McGees

Perhaps the female students should wear a veil. If they still want to fraternise with unrelated males, then its off for a good whipping. What country and what century are we talking about here??
Ross

What if two boys want to hold hands or hug? Or stand within one metre of each other. Sounds like Brian needs a good, public hug.
Adam

School rules of this type aren't there so much to impose the rule or standard itself as to install the idea that society has certain expectations and perhaps more importantly that those expectations matter in a practical way - they have real consequences attached, like it or not. Whether or not such a rule is "civilised" is very much up for questioning in my mind. I personally believe that rules to stop adolescents (or anyone else for  that matter) from showing affection for each other in public is draconian and frankly, an utter disgrace that is, a huge fall from grace. But then, maybe the whole western world is heading to utter disgrace anyway? In that regard, at least schools are teaching students to be sensitive to their environment - an essential survival skill for the future of our world I think.
Bryan J. Rentoul

I don't think a one-metre rule is required. I do however think that harrassment (physicaly /sexual/verbal racial etc) should be a primary topic (it probably is already in some form) and children be encouraged to use harassment awareness and defence tools. Teachers need to be able to encourage and enforce the use of harassment tools. This includes between students and between students and techers.
Alex

I come from a country where rules of interaction between boys and girls (males and females) is extremely rigid and reinforced by the society, itself. I was one of those who fought against such ridiculous rules! Interaction between boys and girls, especially during the teen years is very important.  If you want to make some rules about their socialising, then clamp down on shows of affection, like kissing, hugging etc - which would be inappropriate at school anyway. Rather than just outright keeping them a metre apart! That's just rubbish! Do they have that much space in classes to keep them all one metre apart?
Novyl

How draconian!
Alan

This rule is ridiculous! Are they scared that one day these kids will be grown up ready to have sex or something? And to Brian who thinks that public affection should be "clamped down on", I guess you haven't been in a relationship in a long time or ever. People have a right to display such affection, whether it be in the street, at the office and even school.
Tony Breese

Come on Brian. Only someone that doesn't get affection would say for it to be banned in all public areas. Try telling my girlfriend she`s not allowed to give me a hug in public, you best be wearing a helmet when you do so. At school level though, that's getting a bit rough, intimite contact should not be allowed, but a 1m rule. Like to see how they police that at the canteen, gym classes, athletics etc. What a joke.
Ben

This rule doesn't go far enough! Public displays of affection should be clamped down on across the board - in workplaces, in the street, in pubs. Starting at schools is the best way to go.
Brian

What a ridiculous thing for a school to bring in. The whole purpose of co-education is so students of the opposite sex can learn to be mature and interact with each other as young adults.
Catherine

A rule assuming every student is heterosexual.  What a surprise.
Virginia

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