In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, six-year-old Derek Dahlke Jr. was punished and warned he might be suspended under school rules on sexual harassment after chasing some kindergarten and first-grade girls and threatening to kiss them. The school principal said, "it brings him power. This behavior must stop immediately." The boy's father relates telling his son "it is unacceptable to be chasing girls and telling them you are going to kiss them. His comment was, 'Why? I just want them to be friends.' "

Several junior high school students in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota were disciplined for their habit of hugging each other. "We don't have a hugging epidemic because we've clamped down on that," said Chuck Arns, Pequot Lakes middle level principal. "We as a staff decided it was an unnecessary behavior. It has a tendency to change the atmosphere in school."

And in Annapolis, Maryland, an elementary school principal outlawed the game of tag because it violates the school's anti-violence and "no touching" policies. Students may still play tag during physical education, if their teacher chooses to lead a group game, but it is no longer allowed during recess.

†