PDA needs to stop. Let’s not make the same mistakes as past students and be teenagers under the stairs.
Multiple people have stated that they don’t really have an opinion or a say in what people do, but just as long as it is respectful, and not dirty. I’ve gotten a few responses by conducting my own survey. They were pretty evenly split, with about 50% of the people thinking it is gross in all but that they can’t change the fact that it happens. The other 50% have said they don’t have a preference but that they don’t want to see too much. A teacher, Ms. Gambill who works at Shawnee Mission West had said, “It’s fine if kept to a minimum, it can get excessive, but students have a lot of emotions.”
Public display of affection is often seen as something gross, and whoever shows affection in public needs to “get a room”. In my opinion, It is not a bad thing at all. Many students and teachers here at Shawnee Mission West have no worries about it at all, it is not a big deal to them. It’s described as disrespectful, and irresponsible, and said that it shouldn’t happen unless they are in private. If they are kissing or being romantic it could make someone jealous, or if they are dating someone the same gender as them. That’s a bigger issue than PDA in some people’s eyes.
We have almost 2,000 students, which means a lot of them will fall in love, and in relationships with other students inside and outside the school. However, they need to keep it to a minimum, but there is this idea that no teacher or admin can stop people from loving others especially when they have an overwhelming amount of wants, and needs as well.
Some of my peers have said it’s easier to get work done knowing they have a partner that keeps them in check. Lots of teachers and parents believe that being in a relationship keeps the students from learning, instead, it is doing the opposite. For me I find comfort in my romantic and platonic relationships, I have support around me, and if students don’t have that then we may just not being as good as we are. Sometimes it is not like that and they choose this person over their education but this school is full of young minds, and were not taught how to show up when they’re infatuated with someone and were not taught how to keep up a relationship in High School.
We are all new to this. I have problems with certain things as well. I cannot say I haven’t held my boyfriend’s hand or haven’t hugged him, if I said that I haven’t I’d be lying. We have our own problems, classes, experiences, and goals. We also want to be kids and be able to have a partner. The sad part about this is that less than 50% of High School sweetheart relationships only last for however long. Plenty of students do go above that percentage and start families, even during college. We were not taught how to do that either. Yet these students in romantic relationships want to share kisses, hugs, and hand holdings. If they do more than that, it would be considered gross, and disrespectful. It may be common sense to a lot, but others may just not be able to do it at home, and may just want to show their affection. Students and teachers do not want to see it though. They can’t stop it, when they get a couple in trouble, another couple will just do the same thing.
Students also believe that closely dancing at Homecoming, Prom, or Sweethearts is also not okay because of it being in a school setting. Other students want to dance with their dates, it is a dance, not a classroom. They want to be able to make those memories, enjoy the music, and their date. They shouldn’t have to accommodate someone because they don’t like the way they’re dancing together.
PDA is okay when it’s kept down. Multiple people have said this such as ELA 1 teacher Jenri Conley, Business teacher Brian Mills, and Biology teacher Caroline Gambill, and said that if it’s not disrespectful then they have no preference for this term.
