School District Bans Hugs, Birthday Parties and Cake Post Sandy Hook Massacre

One school district is using the Sandy Hook Massacre to ban hugs, birthday parties and cake. The school administrators are saying the new policy is in place to protect the children. But are they taking it too far?

At a parent-teacher conference the parents were told that the policy will protect their children from inappropriate behavior - hugging, food allergies - eating cake, and feelings being hurt - birthday parties!

The school district said in a statement that the new rules are meant to make the parents feel comfortable sending their kids to school. After the Sand Hook massacre where 20 children and six adults were killed, many school districts around the country are considering stricter security policies, but St. Mary’s school district is the first to ban cakes and hugs.

'We think it’s the right balance between safety and parental involvement,' said Kelly Hall, the district's executive director.

However, not everyone is on board with the policy. One parent said: ‘The idea that you can’t go into a school and be hugged by a child, or go in [to] have lunch or be out on the playground and that you can only push the swing for your child and no one else' is unacceptable.’

Do you think this new policy is taking it too far?