With the treacherous temperatures outside, I would freeze without my coat. Unfortunately, this means a daily morning trip to my locker, which is home to the most disturbing site: two teenagers at 7 a.m. trying to give each other a new form of Chlamydia.
It’s impossible to get their attention since they are incapable of looking away from each other, so I’m shocked when they finally turn to glare at me for daring to interrupt. Thankfully, they normally scurry off, showing the first sign of human decency.
Public Displays of Affection (PDAs) are a harmful way for students to build unhealthy habits and attachments while also taking away others’ attention from their education. These displays are disgusting, a waste of time during the day, and, most importantly, inappropriate for a school environment.
PDA is unhealthy because the students engaging in PDA are developing self-centered behaviors, considering they can’t act civilized in public, where they only think about their wants. If a student feels the need to show affection in school, they are seeking attention and disregarding how their actions affect the people around them. For example, if you know I am coming to my locker every single day at that exact time, you could at least pick a new spot. Recently it looks like they may have come to their senses since I think they moved to a bench! Is that your substitute for a bed? Often, PDA couples are blocking the halls; how hard is it to move out of my way? Students should be able to properly use the school building to get from class to class without having to run into these nasty displays. Are these couples truly incapable of keeping their hands off of each other for the measly six-minute passing periods? Sometimes, these students are so busy making new pet names for each other that they end up late to class. I guarantee there are better things to be doing with their time, and maybe the school district should look into getting these students to therapy, because they clearly need help, before they completely throw away their lives by disregarding their schooling for a relationship.
PDA is distracting from learning environments for all students, especially the couple, and frankly not appropriate for school. I know the purpose of a school is to learn and study content, but we should probably be doing a study on you. While it makes sense to talk to your friends in the halls and take a break during passing periods, this time is not for PDA. Not only is it a poor use of time, but I want to meet the people who raised you because they clearly did something wrong. To be honest, no one wants to see it, and students shouldn’t have to constantly be exposed to the horror without any say in the matter.
For the couples that feel the need to be in constant physical contact with their partner at all times possible, they are not spending enough time focusing on their studies. High school is meant to prepare people for college or a future career, but instead of looking towards a job and building a life, these couples are building unhealthy attachment issues to people they can’t be around 24/7.
Students have plenty of time out of school to do whatever they want, but the school is for education, and they are abusing the time with their priorities. How hard can it be to keep your hands to yourself for eight hours of the day?