DAILY MAIL, UK

Student suspended for breaking school's zero-tolerance 'no hugging' policy

A 14-year-old middle school boy and his best friend, a girl of the same age, have been suspended after the principal saw them give each other a quick, innocent hug.
Nick Martinez and the girl were punished because the Southwest Middle School in Palm Bay, Florida, has a zero-tolerance policy on any kind of public display of affection.
The school's strict policy stipulates that there is no difference between an unwanted hug, or sexual harassment, and a hug between friends.

The principal said he believed the hug was innocent, but in keeping with policy he marched the two students to the school's dean who ordered the suspensions.
The students' handbook states that students can receive a one-day out-of-school suspension for kissing, while students caught hugging or hand-holding are penalized with a dean's detention or suspension, foxnews.com reports.

School administrators said a committee of parents approved the 'no hugging' policy years ago, and there are currently no plans to reverse it. More