P(lease) D(on’t) A

The first bell of the day rings. Students are racing through the hallways trying to make it to their classes on time. The last thing anyone should have to worry about is having to slow down because a couple is having an intense make-out session in the middle of the hallway.

Public display of affection (PDA) has transformed over the years from an occasional quick hug, into a couple having a blatant, full-blown make out session in front of anyone that happens to pass by. Not only is seeing PDA in the hallway disturbing, but it can also be awkward for both teachers and other students.

A study conducted at the University of Texas questioned 102 students on their opinions of PDA. 80 percent of students believed that kissing with tongue was offensive, however, 73 percent of couples continue to display their affection for each other at least once a month regardless of how offensive it might be.

Maybe PDA is okay in certain circumstances: holding hands, a quick kiss hello at a restaurant or a goodbye hug. But inside the school walls, when students have 5 minutes to run from one side of the building to another, distracting your peers with a make out sesh is enough to make you public enemy number one.

With society’s increase in social media, photos of affectionate couples are plastered all over Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Today, teenage couples flaunt their happiness both in school and out of school for students to continuously know everything that’s going on in their private lives. Statistics illustrate that 50 percent of the community is single. It’s time for couples to stop shamelessly broadcasting the private aspects of their relationships.

Having a romantic date is iconic, but according to a survey conducted by StageOfLife, 60 percent of students negatively perceive teenage couples in love. Making out in school isn’t helping these statistics, so perhaps teens need to start going for something more romantic than an intimate moment in the walls of one of the most unromantic places.

Solon High School’s student code of conduct states, “Students shall not engage in kissing, embracing or any sexual acts or displays not appropriate to the educational environment.”

Regardless of this statement, students continue to flaunt their relationships outright in front of teachers and peers. While some students won’t necessarily agree with every rule written in our handbook, this rule is definitely an important one to follow. Students need to be respectful of their peers.

Next time you find your significant other in the hallway and decide reenact the intense kissing scenes in “The Notebook”, question what you would do if your parents were there. Would you change your behavior if it was your dad watching from the classroom door instead of your teacher? The basic rule of thumb is to just keep your PDA, PG.