Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

"Not a Major Problem Locally"

Kissing, the most normal and natural thing in the world.

It's harmless and makes both parties involved feel better, so long as it's not being forced on someone.

There has, of late, been some controversy involved with children kissing one another.

A six-year-old boy was suspended from school for kissing his "girlfriend" on the cheek. Other children have been talked to about similar behavior.

"Kids are kids," Howard Austin, principal of Prescott Elementary School, said, adding this does happen, but is not a major problem locally.

"We deal with them," he said, "they do things like this according to policy."

However, Austin said, the teachers and staff at PES need to be fair in their interpretation of the rules and how they are enforced.

When children do kiss one another, he said, they are talked to by Austin, who also talks with the teachers and parents so they can help deal with it as well.

"Our policy is to keep your hands and feet to yourself," he said. "We let people use their experience and common sense (in these situations). We don't have rules saying no kissing.

"We have more problems with children hitting one another. But kissing is not a problem at PES. There are some isolated incidents, but we don't put children out of school for it."

Prescott Superintendent Don Johnston said the school district has been advised to be careful with sexual harassment.

He said those schools, where the student was suspended, probably have some sort of policy for such situations, and are doing what they feel is in the best interest of their schools.

"I'm not aware of any problem we've had with it," Johnston said. "We let (Howard) Austin evaluate the situation and do what he thinks is best."

When children do kiss one another, Austin said, their parents are notified so they can be aware of the situation and talk with their children at home.

"We're dealing with little minds," he said. "They don't know right from wrong. They (in many cases) are imitating what they see their role models do."

Austin said the key to restructuring the system is the home life children have. Parents, he said, need to stand up for what they think is right and do it, but nothing will be changed overnight.

"Children are growing up on television," he said. "We need to break this mold.

"We're working with the children and their parents are working with us. This is the key. We're all working for the same goal, to educate the children."