A boy and a girl are walking down the hall, in their own world of love. The boy leans over and gazes into the girl’s eyes.
Butterflies overwhelm their stomachs, and a feeling of love forces their hands to meet. Then suddenly, a teacher comes up and karate chops their bond and sign of affection apart, saying their actions are inappropriate.
Could this be true? Did this ever really happen?
You betcha! This is what high school was like when Mr. Kruze attended over 35 years ago.
However, this is not Webster High School today. When kids walk down the halls they see not only the holding of hands, but “making out,” and other signs of affection as well.
The times have changed, but has it been for the better? How does what is known as public display of affection affect the kids who see it?
“It’s gross,” says junior Andrea Blitz.
“[It] doesn’t really bother me,” says senior Dan Gruttadaro.
There must be some kind of middle ground that can be met. Is a public display of affection right? Should it be allowed at Webster High School? In a survey of 77 randomly chosen students at WHS, 87 per cent of the respondents feel that such public displays are not a problem in school.
According to the Webster High School student handbook 2000-2001, under Public Display of Affection: “Affection between two people is considered a private relationship. School is neither the time nor play for excessive displays of affection.”
Yet many people argue about where to draw the fine line between acceptable and excessive. One of the teaching assistants, Melonie, feels that displays of affection can sometimes be a problem. “I don’t think holding hands is a big deal. Excessive is making out for five minutes in the halls.”
Adam Vaccaro, a junior, says, “I don’t really care because it’s not my business...it doesn’t offend me. I’m not their parents.”
Senior Jon Mandina agrees with Vaccaro on the subject, saying, “It doesn’t affect me at all.” He says he does not feel that it is his problem, or his right to say anything. Jon, asked if the rule in the student handbook would help to stop excessive Public Displays of Affection, responded, “We have a student handbook?”
Many other students disagree with Vaccaro and Mandina on the subject. “I don’t mind a kiss on the cheek or lips, but making out is a little too much. You need to get a room!” said junior Brian Vanharken.
The question then arises, if two students are being excessive with public displays of affection, does it make other people feel uncomfortable? Still, 83 per cent of students responded no.
Another student here, Bridget Urlacher, says, “I think it depends on the extent of the affection...like just cute little stuff. I think it’s cute to show affection.”
Lauren Randall, who has had a steady boyfriend for over a year and half, says jokingly that public displays of affection are “fine as long as it’s me.”
But when asked how she feels in front of a teacher, she says it makes her feel uncomfortable. This brings up the point that the circumstance changes when an adult is involved.
Heather Smock, who also has a long time boyfriend, says lightheartedly that one way to judge the behavior is, that it’s “okay, as long as your grandmother approves!”
The idea of a student’s grandmother walking down the halls and seeing what goes on here at Webster High might shock some.
Mr. Kruze says that the strictness of rules regarding displays of affection when he attended high school drove kids to “make-out” behind corners and doors. However, he did not participate in this. “ I never kissed in high school… there were risk takers… I wasn’t one of them.”
What were his reasons for conservatism? Mr. Kruze considers himself, “Old School” when it comes to the treatment of women. “I think its terribly disrespectful…[it shows] people don’t care.”
He also explains that people will pass judgments about what kind of a person you are if you show excessive displays of affection. “Guys and girls should learn to control themselves.” However, he says this will still not stop various people because, “some kids want to be known as ‘players.’”
To show how the times have changed, 90 per cent of respondents to the survey said they do not feel that hand holding is inappropriate.
Along with this, only 4 per cent think that a quick little “smooch” is improper. For one sophomore, Jennia Catalano, the high school atmosphere regarding this issue is “basically the same [as the junior high.]” The only difference is there are “just more people.”
So why are some people going past the boundaries? Mr. Morgan says he thinks that the problem is when two young people like each other, they tend to not realize they are in a professional environment.
“… They [students] don’t see anyone else… [Each one is] absorbed in the other person.” Mr. Morgan goes on to point out that students in the hallways are in a public place and should realize that excessive displays of affection are inappropriate.
As for the rule in the handbook, is it enforced? Mr. Morgan says that he has received referrals when two students are showing too much affection in public. There usually is no punishment, but there is discipline, he says. After students are spoken to, they realize it is inappropriate, and they are even a little embarrassed.
Is showing affection in public degrading, or is it a sign of the times? The amount of affection on display in the hallways certainly stirs up controversial emotions.
Every individual has a different perspective about how much is too much. But some degree of restraint, says Mr. Morgan, “is a sign of maturity.”

What YOU had to say about public displays of affection:
77 students at Webster High School were surveyed randomly on their feelings about public displays of affection. Here are the results...
• 87% of people feel that public display of affection is NOT a problem in this school.
• 83% of people say that public display of affection has NOT made them feel uncomfortable in school.
• 90% of students feel that hand holding is apporopriate during school.
• 69% say they have NOT been “grossed out” due to seeing public displays of affection.
• 96% of students feel that a quick little “smooch” is appropraite during school.
• 64% say that they HAVE made comments toward two people showing public displays of affection.