Petition to Amend Physical Contact Rules at Upper Columbia Academy

 

To the Administration and Students of Upper Columbia Academy,

 

We, the undersigned students, respectfully submit this petition to request a reconsideration and amendment of the current policies regarding physical contact between students of the opposite sex—specifically, the prohibition of handholding and the restriction of hugs to a duration of no more than three seconds.

 

We understand and appreciate that the intent behind these rules is to promote professionalism, maintain boundaries, and support a focused learning environment. However, we believe these specific restrictions may be unnecessarily strict and do not reflect the normal, healthy forms of social interaction that are appropriate for our age and development.

 

Our Concerns:

1. Handholding and brief hugs are common, non-romantic expressions of support and friendship. Restricting these actions can limit students’ ability to comfort and connect with their peers in meaningful ways.

2. The current rules may foster discomfort and shame around normal human interactions. Rather than encouraging responsibility and maturity, overly rigid policies may discourage emotional intelligence and healthy social development.

3. Respectful physical boundaries can be maintained without blanket prohibitions. Other schools promote respectful interaction through clear guidelines rather than overly specific time limits or gendered restrictions.

 

Our Requests:

• That the school revise the policy to allow non-romantic physical contact, such as handholding or brief hugs, between students regardless of gender.

• That the rules focus on intent and respectfulness rather than arbitrary time limits or gender-based assumptions.

• That any new guidelines be developed in partnership with student input, encouraging a culture of mutual respect and trust.

 

We are committed to maintaining a respectful, safe, and inclusive school environment. We believe that with reasonable adjustments, the school can continue to uphold its values while allowing students to express support and friendship in appropriate ways.

 

Thank you for considering our perspective.

 

Sincerely,

Asher Thomlinson

Sophomore, Class of 2027