Education

NJ Middle School Principal Who Banned Hugging Resigns

Last month, The Blaze reported about Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School Principal Tyler Blackmore’s decision that his school would become a “no hugging” zone. As you may recall, the reasoning behind the ban on student embraces was centered upon the allegation that there were some “incidents of unsuitable physical interactions.”

NJ Principal Who Banned Hugging Resigns | Tyler Blackmore

Now, it seems the principal is moving on — literally. On April 5, Blackmore filed his resignation from Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School, where he had worked since July 2010. In an interview with the Asbury Park Press, School Board President Charles Kenny said that the resignation was a personnel matter and the reasons behind it were confidential. The Press recaps last month’s events:

On March 22, Blackmore told students at the middle school that they were in a “no-hugging school.” District officials came to Blackmore’s support at the time, with Superintendent David M. Healy releasing a statement that night saying the announcement was intended to address incidents of “unsuitable physical interactions between students.”

“There is no policy specific to hugging, and we have not, nor will we be, suspending students for hugging,” Healy said in the statement, adding that the Board of Education does have policies in place to address bullying, inappropriate relationships and inappropriate conduct.

At a Board of Education meeting on March 26, Kenny explained the principal’s controversial “no hugging policy” and maintained that it was “not at all intended to prohibit a passing embrace.”

“Some students had prolonged, overly physical contact that (Blackmore) considered inappropriate for the middle school,” Kenny said at the time.

There is no indication that the hugging controversy was at the center of his decision to leave the school.

Comments (40)

  • Ch
    Posted on April 13, 2012 at 5:25am

    Yes, let them screw in the halls. Encourage it. Screw in the classroom. YES, YES, YES. Americans, do nothing but screw. DEMAND IT. Don’t work. Focus on your private parts being rewarded.

    Report Post »  
  • EP46
    Posted on April 13, 2012 at 5:20am

    How about parents hug their children and we do not have ‘hugging at school, either by students or pedophile teachers’. Perhaps if children are hugged at home and are told that they are loved they would not be so needy for physical contact.

    Report Post »  
  • Blazeanswerman
    Posted on April 13, 2012 at 12:56am

    All of that hugging sure brings out the worst in kids. It’s not the violent video games, it’s not a father missing from the family, it’s not the evil books of killing each other and making it seem romantic… It’s all that loving hugging of appreciation that is destroying our children and we will not have that kind of behavior in this school or in any other!!!

    Report Post » Blazeanswerman  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:19pm

    The commie’s are taking over and you fools are letting it happen.

    Report Post »  
  • TheSoundOf Truth
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 5:55pm

    Hugging Bad?

    Abortion…good? HUH?

    Report Post » TheSoundOf Truth  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:51pm

    Why didn’t he just say a NO MAKING OUT rule in the first place?

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:14pm

      Almost all schools of the high school level and below don’t allow public displays of affection in school. It’s not something new, those rules have been in place since before most people alive today were born.

      I doubt this guy’s resignation had anything to do with this rule. Sometimes the blaze picks up on the dumbest stories and keeps beating them into the ground as if they are real news.

      Report Post »  
  • LetsBeSmartAboutThis
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:41pm

    Right about now I bet that ex-principal could use a big ol’ hug !

    Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:29pm

    Bet that principal still gets to keep their ‘taxpayer gifted’ pension.

    Report Post »  
  • whitelephant
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:16am

    We have that in Florida in Seminole County Schools……..No P.D.A. or (Personal Displays of Affection).
    I told my Kids to Ignore it. Stupid Rules deserve to be ignored and shunned! Sadly I have complained but not many parents seem to care.

    Report Post » whitelephant  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:54am

    Duh, it’s middle school kids with raging hormones.

    Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:15am

    The ideological war on men plays into the hands of our enemies who want a weakened vulnerable America

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765552031/The-war-on-boys-young-men-are-facing-a-new-crisis.html

    The secret combination is real. The shadow government is playing behind the scenes manipulating public opinion and the press. Masculinity is the target, as is American exceptionalism.

    Report Post »  
    • piper60
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:41am

      The government would rather have the students at each other’s throats.

      Report Post » piper60  
  • possom
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:47am

    But tsa hug’s people all the time.

    Report Post » possom  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:20am

    we do believe in the ”keep your hands to yourself”. quick hugs didn’t seem to be REAL bad, however, with the combined Planned Parenthood pedophile degenerate ”sex ed” agenda and that degenerate obama and his obamademocrats [like obama's close friend the school czar NAMBLA pedophile kevin jennings] encouraging these 3rd graders having oral sex under the desks, maybe it is time we do start reinforcing NO TOUCHEE–NO FEELEE in school again.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:00am

    He obviously wasn’t hugged enough as a child, and hugged too much by his football coach.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • 123456beatriz
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:59am

    This idiot “principal” maybe learned a lesson

    Report Post »  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:59am

    I hope Leo Buscaglia opens a can of whoop-ass on him to boot.

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 12:18pm

      Leo is dead. To have him opening a can of whoop now would be really frightening.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:35pm

      I didn’t know that DISMAYED. Maybe Leo could haunt him a little, then.

      Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • Ella
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:58am

    Since when is hugging appropriate beahvior in school? Of course it should have been banned. It should have been banned from day one as part of school rules. I teach in a private elementary school
    and one of the school rules is, keep your hands to yourself. This avoids all possible problems that can stem from touching another student for any reason.

    Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:46am

      I find your post disturbing…Private School..?
      The Parents and Teachers, I would have thought, in “private school” would have a more common sense approach on public affection.. Greeting…Saying good-bye.. consoling someone.. ect
      these are all actions that are “real life” scenarios
      I would think a private school would “teach” what kind of actions is appropriate ,instead of being politically correct and say hands off because we cant come to a conclusion on what’s right and wrong.
      There use to be a lady called Miss Manner’s ..that taught proper etiquette ..

      I guess this is where we are today.
      We either don’t have time in a day or
      We cant come to some kind of understanding ..
      So we “remove” all possibilities.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:46am

      @ella

      Why do you immediately assume a hug or physical contact is a bad thing? A hug transmits comfort, compassion, support, joy, love, friendship, unselfishness and acceptance. A hug sends the message “I care about you”. Human beings thrive on positive verbal & physical interaction with others. Of course there will be a few instances of inappropriate “hugs” but those should be dealt with on an individual basis. Unfortunately people like you find it easier, less time consuming and less bothersome to ban something(which implies that it is always a bad thing) instead of putting forth the effort to teach children when, where, why and how it is appropriate or inappropriate.

      I bet you don’t allow kids to play Ring Around the Rosie or Red Rover because they’d be (gasp!) holding hands. And we certainly can’t have that.

      Report Post »  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:57am

    Blanket policies are questionable. One size does not fit all.

    Report Post »  
  • louzyana
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:57am

    On his way out, the Hug Nazi was told… “No hugs for you”

    Report Post »  
  • kschmud
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:56am

    If 2 students are inappropriately “hugging” too long…deal with it individually, not a by universal mandate

    Report Post »  
  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:50am

    Policy sounds reasonable to me.

    Report Post »  
  • brntout
    Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:46am

    Wonder if he recieved any consolation hugs on his way out the door.

    Report Post »  

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