(Too Much) Love Abounding

NEA Today, Feb 2005

Is your school a jungle of flowers and balloons on Valentine's Day? Do you see more teddy bears than students? When it conies to celebrating Valentine's Day in schools, love isn't always so sweet.

THE HOLIDAY may be full of fun for students, but, according to USA Today, some teachers and administrators think Valentine's Day has gotten out of control in schools and are trying to limit Valentine's gifts during school hours. Some teachers point to how distracted students get with all those sweets and gifts coming in-and how embarrassed students who don't receive anything feel. Plus, some school offices have become more like loading docks for balloons and flowers, which somebody (and we aren't calling names) has to distribute.

The chaos has led some administrators to politely ask students to send their little gifts of affection somewhere else besides school. A number of Greenville County high schools in South Carolina have outright banned Valentine's Day deliveries.

Some educators, though, think that Valentine's Day at school is all in good fun. David Sawhill, a math teacher at Pioneer Junior High in California, says teachers "could actually use the deliveries as a teaching tool."

After all, he notes, they allow "students to express themselves toward others." Hmm. Sawhill, whose school allows deliveries, does add that an organized delivery system could help keep some of the Valentine chaos under control.