Are the kids in charge of PDA enforcement? By Caitlyn Currie

As we all have been reminded multiple times, PRHS policy limits public displays of affection (PDA) to "holding hands and brief, friendly hugs" and no further. Pretty simple, direct and straightforward. But for some reason, many students interpret this as:

"The rules to PDA are up to the discretion and morals of each individual student."

 In other words, "Rules? What rules?" What we all need to hear and realize is PDA affects everyone, including many of us who have no choice but to observe kids making out, groping and grinding in the hallways. 

Of course, many students witnessing PDA in the school say it doesn’t make them feel uncomfortable, or they just “don’t care.” Maybe that’s why we hear so many complaints about the rule. Maybe, just perhaps, that’s why we need the rule.

 Hear me out here. 

Is it possible we've become immune to PDA? I believe we’ve come to a point where we don’t notice the couple playing tonsil hockey in the middle of the hall. It’s just being ignored. If it’s getting to a point where it is that “regular” or “normal,” well,  that’s a sign it needs to stop. This is where the rules play in.

We don't make the rules, despite the fact that we like to believe we do. And the lack of enforcement by most teachers leads most of us to believe that we carry more than a little authority throughout the school. Personally, I have seen some of that same attitude carried out with some of the other school rules as well. Although the teenager inside me wants to rebel, well, just to rebel, the rules are the rules. But teachers don't do us any favors with selective enforcement.

I know we’ve all heard it before: “It’s a distraction to your learning.”  And, whether one would like to admit it or not, school is a work place. Here we are learning appropriate behavior for our future work places. And tell me, if you were at the office ten years from now, how unsettling would it be to have to dodge smooching couples on your way to the copier, or to have two people locking eyes like they’re straight out of “The Notebook,” standing right next to your cubicle while you’re trying to do your work? Or to sit in a meeting between two people who just had their hands on each other's butts before the boss walked in? Exactly.

So, you PDA newcomers, (those of you in a sparkly new relationship),  and you regular offenders, listen up: Your peers, teachers, and future co-workers would be very grateful if you could take it down a notch. Take a deep breath. Lower the heat.