As some of you are aware, Karina, my 13-year-old daughter got lunch detention when a boy hugged her goodbye. She told me all about it the moment she got home and asked if I thought the punishment was too harsh? I thought about it and was a bit conflicted. What I ended up answering her was, "Yes, I did think it was too harsh, but the rules are there to protect you." She seemed satisfied with my response.

But I wasn't sure I was...

What if she had hugged a female classmate? Would the punishment be the same? What if my daughter wasn't sure of her sexual identity? There are a lot of variables. But, this morning, I realized that Karina isn't alone.

A fellow 13-year-old student named Megan Coulter, also got two days of detention after two hugs for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection.

District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook.

It states: "Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved."

Really? Is it REALLY poor taste to give someone a hug? I remember when I was in middle school, hugging was HUGE! We hugged hello, we hugged goodbye, we hugged for EVERYTHING! How can hugging be bad? If these rules would have been in effect when I was in school, I would have graduated in the detention room!

What do you think? Are hugs really in poor taste? Reflect poor judgement? Bring discredit to the school and to the persons involved? Share your thoughts!