No touching. Not even a high-five.

Do you remember playing tip at school? Did you play sports like basketball and football? Did you ever give a friend a hi-five?

And could you imagine if that wasn’t allowed?

Get this. A primary school in Victoria has banned its students from touching each other. That means no hugging, no tag, no sports like basketball…. and definitely no catch and kiss.

This from News.com.au:

Mt Martha Primary School in Victoria is refusing to back down over the policy, despite opposition from parents and child psychologists who have called the policy “ridiculous”, “over the top” and “crazy”.

But principal Judy Beckworth said the community had overreacted, adding: “I don’t see what we have done as unreasonable.”

“They are given time to reflect. It’s like a counselling session,” she said.Ms Beckworth was ordered to undergo her own counselling by the Victorian government after threatening to cut the school’s curriculum if parents do not make voluntary payments.

Year 6 students were this week removed from the oval after they protested about the no-touch policy, which ends on Monday, and were given a “dressing down”.

Is that fair enough? Or is it completely ridiculous to stop kids from playing together?

How about this for another school rule… A former chief justice of Australia’s Family Court has suggested making parents of bullies accountable for their child’s actions.

Alastair Nicholson said schools should also be held legally responsible for student bullying, even if it takes place after hours. He said stronger laws could prevent bullying from occurring.

This from The Herald Sun:

Mr Nicholson, one of Australia’s most respected legal figures, believes tougher laws could be crucial in the fight against “insidious and dangerous” bullying.”If there’s one thing that makes people tend to be cautious . . . it’s the fact it might cost them a lot of money,” he said.

“If schools know they have a responsibility outside the gates, and if parents know they perhaps have a responsibility as well, there could well be consequences that would cause them to be a bit more careful about what their kids are doing.”

Do you think banning kids from touching each other will prevent injuries at school? And what about bullying – will making parents and schools responsible make any difference? How have rules changed since you were at school?