Maryland school district bans hugs, party invitations and birthday cake in post-Sandy Hook overhaul of security policies

PUBLISHED: 19:40 EST, 19 March 2013 | UPDATED: 19:43 EST, 19 March 2013

As schools across the country tighten security in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre, one Maryland school district is taking it to the extreme, banning everything from hugs to birthday cake.

St. Mary's County adopted the new security measures in its 17 public schools in the aftermath of the shooting in Newtown, Conn. that left 20 school children dead as well as six adults.

The new policy is meant to protect against a number of potential threats to children's safety, including food allergies, inappropriate contact between adults and minors, and even hurt feelings.

New rules: St. Mary's County schools have adopted new policies that ban kids from sharing baked goods to avoid problems with food allergies

'We think it’s the right balance between safety and parental involvement,' Kelly Hall, the district's executive director of elementary schools, told Southern Maryland Newspapers.

No hugs: The new rules also ban hugging between children and adults who are not their parents

Specifically, the rules ban hugs between children and adults who aren't their parents, limit sibling visits during the school day, and prohibit kids from sharing baked goods or giving out birthday invitations at school.

Impromptu teacher-parent conferences are also banned in the new policy.

Referring to the rule regarding party invitations, Hall said, 'If there are 20 individuals in the class and someone brings in seven birthday invitations, it was creating an academic disruption. People were getting their feelings hurt.'

School board member Cathy Allen said she thinks the new rules are 'horrible' and will have the unwanted effect of discouraging parents from volunteering at the school.

'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, she told NBC News.

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But in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre, 'everybody's anxiety is high' and the rules help to assuage parent's worst fears when they send their kids off to school every morning, said school board member Mary Washington.

Precautions: White Marsh Elementary is one of the 17 schools where the new rules have taken effect. The rules were adopted after the Sandy Hook massacre that left 20 students dead

'We are entrusted to protect all our students,' Washington said.

The school board was considering the new guidelines prior to the Sandy Hook tragedy, and then decided to implement them in its aftermath. School officials say they are not final - even though they are already in place - and that they are looking for feedback from parents.

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Conservatraitors are just too stupid to learn.

- lafe , Beachside, United States, 20/3/2013 20:27

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How will this protect them from a shooter? - fred_franken, Phoenix, 20/3/2013 12:51****************It will make the children so paranoid to even leave the house, let alone go to school. Guns are bad, cupcakes are bad, Birthdays are bad, .....Hugs are DEADLY....

- Patrick , Belfast, 20/3/2013 19:01

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It Works like this; First you dumb down the population, by passing Children who can't read, or hardly do math. Then Many of them with menial jobs, poor, lots of kids where the Government gives free compensation for poor choices.. JUST VOTE FOR US...we will take care of you.... Karl Marx #101

- Rick , Pace, USA, 20/3/2013 18:44

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Future generation of Stepford Kids. Cold and uncaring.

- ShadowZ , Here and Now, 20/3/2013 18:39

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Yea, I can see how having a school birthday party is exactly like a lunatic with a weapon. liberals = idiots

- CindyBP , Anza, 20/3/2013 18:12

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since the late 60s public schools have been teaching to the lowest common denominator. do not try to lift the poorer performing student take the rest down to there level. self esteem is most important but what good is self esteem when you come out of 13 + years and you cannot read write or count? children have to know things are not always fair, everybody doesn't always like you but you should try to be fair to everyone. Lately the public schools are turning out sheeple and not achievers. as one article i read in a Dr. office mag. a mother from Ca. my child learns they have to recycle and stuff but for readind and math I have a tutor this is in a state that spends a fortune on school. everyone is not going to like you but you shouls strive to be fair to everyone. =

- jr23 , cape coral fl usa, 20/3/2013 17:58

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Maybe they should concentrate on TEACHING! My brother and sister are teachers, and the stories they tell are unbelievable. My brother had to teach sixth-graders cursive, and he has a seventh-grader who can't read! The Honors English teacher has asked, more than once, how to teach the difference between similes and metaphors. How about this: she is an ass (metaphor); her brain is like that of an ass (simile).

- Art Vandelay , NYC, United States, 20/3/2013 17:04

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Wow! How did I manage to grow up, considering that I went to birthday parties to which I was invited at school, brought cookies or cupcakes to class for my birthday (and shared in the treats others brought for theirs), hugged and was hugged (by nuns, no less!)? Worse still, we even gave and received *gasp* VALENTINES! Oh the horror......!

- Kansa , Ecaussinnes-Lalaing Belgium, Belgium, 20/3/2013 16:56

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Paranoia.

- DrWho , Orange, 20/3/2013 16:53

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If I was down to my last dime, I wouldn't work for the public schools because of this kind of dysfunctional mentality. If this isn't a wake up call for school choice, I don't know what is!

- Faith64-Georgia USA , Villa Rica, United States, 20/3/2013 16:52

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