Is PDA B-A-D?
January 12, 2017
As many people know, PDA is ‘Public Display of Affection’ which is showing affection to someone else in a public area.
PDA can be hugging, kissing, holding hands, touching, and many more ways of showing affection. It also can be performed with any type of relationship like dating or married, friendships, and much more.
There are many rules against PDA in schools, stores, and including almost anywhere that is in public.
“I think it’s fine to a certain extent, but when you’re kissing and stuff it’s gross.” said Madison Johnson 7th grader.
Ariana Sabal, 8th grader, said she didn’t mind the public displays of affection until it gets gross.
Showing affection in a school creatives an environment that isn’t conducive to concentration and learning according to the K12 website. They say students should refrain from intimate and inappropriate behaviors at school or school related events. These behaviors will be punished with a parent meeting and a potential suspension if the behavior is continued after warning.
Schools are doing what they can to rid of public displays of affection at the schools, but aren’t doing enough.
Johnson said that we should probably put more teachers in the halls around the school to help stop PDA.
According to Navydep.com , in the Navy, any physical forms of affection other than families saying goodbye or greeting a sailor or soldier. Extended kisses or hugs are not tolerated when leaving or greeting sailors or soldiers.
Debate.org has a poll going for if schools should ban PDA or not. 27% of the people say it should be banned and 73% say it shouldn’t be banned.
“School should be a place for learning, and allowing inappropriate ‘make-out’ sessions is not only disruptive to our environment, but uncomfortable for those involved and passersby,” one of the reviewers that voted that PDA should be banned from schools said.
Fictional_Truths1, another reviewer on the website who said PDA shouldn’t be banned said,”Okay, if two kids are groping and tonguing in the hallway, I could see that being a problem, although with a warning before the punishment. However, kissing, holding hands, hugging within reason should be allowed!”
Most schools are trying to prevent Public Display of Affection on school grounds, yet that is not enough to stop it from happening.
Many people have different opinions on PDA and what they should do about it.
Emma • Jan 12, 2021 at 2:35 pm
Banning PDA is absolutely unconstitutional. Being in school does not exclude you from your 1st Amendment right; Freedom of speech, religion, of the press, and to peacefully assemble. Schools have no right to tell people they can’t express their affection for eachother. (but public nudity and sex is a federal crime.)
Ronan • Dec 28, 2020 at 12:18 am
I hugged my friend whilst we were leaving and the teacher said “NO PDA!”.I understand kissing but seriously I hugged her.Once. It’s really dumb.
Michael • Sep 26, 2020 at 11:39 am
I have a significant other and we can only see each other at school. It sucks, because every time i hold their hand or maybe hug them, a kid or a teacher always points it out! It’s really infuriating. There should be nothing wrong with that. Kissing I could maybe see as an issue. But simple gestures of affection like hugging or holding hands shouldn’t be a problem!!
Ginger • Mar 22, 2020 at 12:19 am
I feel as if kissing during school hours is inappropriate and a distraction. Nevertheless, I don’t see how innocent hugging and a touch of hands is an issue. Honestly, school administrators tend to exaggerate the little things; at times they tend to act as prison guards rather than educators. With that being said, as long the act is not inappropriate or uncomfortable, it can be done and it should be done.
P.S.
This is not rebelling, but at times, ignore the administrators! They often bring their personal problems to work and inflict their rage on the students.
None of your Business • Feb 18, 2020 at 2:18 pm
I have a boyfriend and we get in trouble for only hugging and it bothers me and not gonna lie it made me feel like we were separating and not as close after times of getting in trouble. It upsets me. Like as long as we’re not being super inappropriate we should be fine! Like literally stop controlling people. It’s annoying that the fact that adults can hug and kiss whenever but when teenagers hug “PDA”!
Sophia • Feb 16, 2020 at 12:23 pm
I’m honestly just here because I have no idea why the teachers and administration at my school are so against PDA. The only forms of PDA my boyfriend and I show are hugging, and when we’re almost completely alone, small packs on the cheeks or lips so we’re not disturbing anyone. I can’t even sit next to him just because I’m a girl and he’s a guy! Just… To me personally, that’s the most stupid thing to get upset about. We’re a a couple starting out and are teenagers; of course we’re gonna want to hug and sit next to each other.
After school every day, while we’re waiting for our ride home, we meet up at the side of the school, hug a little bit and talk about how our days went. We were standing across from each other when a teacher said “really? That gross. Do that on your own time.” And I just… Really? Standing two feet away from each other, talking about our day! It’s not like we’re having sex or something. Just… Someone tell me why standing 2 feet away from your boyfriend and casually talking is “gross”? I honestly just can’t get a grasp of the reason.
James alrhroe • Feb 13, 2020 at 9:57 pm
What doesn’t make sense is what if they do t see eachother after school or what of they are not “making out but simply giving a quick kiss. PDAs are a normal part in a relation ship and limiting them in schools might affect social life in later years after middle school or highschool. I understand that if they are making out but simple kissing should be okay in schools
Wynter • Dec 11, 2019 at 10:31 am
My Girlfriend was crying because she was very sad and i was giving her a hug to comfort her and a teacher grabbed us ripped us apart! Like fine I’m totally gonna let my girlfriend be depressed I GOT SENT TO THE OFFICE FOR TRYING TO COMFORT MY GIRLFRIEND WITH A HUG!
fred • Dec 3, 2019 at 8:10 am
Me and my friend who is a girl were just giving each other a high five and we got yelled at because apparently even HIGH FIVES are considered PDA in schools
Tessa • Nov 20, 2019 at 1:03 pm
I had my arm around my girlfriend and got in trouble for it.
my. arm.
Emily • Feb 8, 2018 at 9:29 am
Me and my best child hood friend got in trouble just for holding hands and hugging , to me it was really stupid…and still to this day there doing it. HUGGING ISNT A CRIME! And they made my friend cry and I was just furious…cause she means alot to me , she’s been through alot with me…and I was at a after school program and I was close to her like my shoulder touched hers and they still got mad at us like cmon! I just wanted to see what she was drawing! I don’t like how this schools are ‘handiling’ it…I understand if it’s kissing but cmon, hugging?..i don’t think it is bad as long as there not kissing …but u can do what ever u want with ur friend…and the fact that we both where dealing with alot in our lives ..i don’t like talking to the school about , who wants to hear ‘this guy tried suducing me at my house’ or ‘my mom and dad where having a fight again..’ we don’t wanna be separated from our parents! So we hug to show that we are there for each other and no need to fear…and hold hands to show that your not alone..to show we are here for them..not go to the staff and have the CPS control us.. we are human..not robots that have to be controlled