PD of A

PD of A

By: Tristan Pulver & Conner Marquez

What is it?

The PDA rule Mrs. Crosswait introduced on Friday stands for "Public Display of Affection." The Student Handbook refers to acts such as hugging, kissing, and inappropriate touching that are not acceptable behavior in a public setting and will result in disciplinary consequences. PDA is a way for people in a relationship to show their affection and connection openly, though societal norms regarding the level of PDA considered acceptable can vary.

But… It's not a new rule…

It appears that the information was already outlined in the handbook. However, considering the tendency for students to overlook the handbook, this topic can be seen as a reintroduction, as many were unaware that the rule was already in effect. Therefore, it is often regarded as a new rule to students given that it wasn’t as strictly enforced prior to Thanksgiving break and it wasn’t often addressed publicly by teachers or other school staff members.

Other Schools’  PD of A

With the “reintroduction” to this PDA rule, we wonder if the implication of things like not being able to hold hands may be a bit harsh, especially for couples. For example, Kimberly High School’s restrictions only go as far as not allowing kissing, inappropriate touching, or prolonged embarrassment. Another example of this happening is at SDSU where their policy states the same thing. On the other hand, districts like Eastlake Middle School have similar policies with their official site stating  “Public displays of affection deemed inappropriate by school standards include—but are not limited to—embracing, hand-holding, and kissing.'' This shows that DMS’s standards for PDA may be contriversal even through different schools.