Public Displays of Affection—or PDA—have been a controversial topic in schools for almost half a century. From hand-holding in hallways to kissing, students and staff have long debated what’s appropriate in a school environment. What do the students themselves actually think about it?
When asked how he would define PDA, 8th grader Markus Clark didn’t hesitate. “Bad,” he said bluntly. To him, PDA is “kissing… that’s basically it, anything that involves mouth to mouth.” Markus believes PDA negatively affects the school environment, explaining that “it’s inappropriate—there’s sixth graders who just came from elementary school, it’s bad.”
Markus also shared his opinion on consequences for PDA, suggesting that rules should be stricter. “Lunch detention if you’re seen doing it,” he said firmly. For Markus, it’s not just setting boundaries—it’s about maintaining respect in shared spaces.
However, not all students feel the same way. Adela Matheson, another 8th grader, had a different opinion. “The actual definition I learned it by is Public Display of Affection,” she explained, “but that means something different to every person.” Adela believes that context— the people around you—make a big difference. She says, “If you’re in public, I think it depends a lot on what the people around you think it means. Those are the people who are affected.”
When it comes to school policy, Adela thinks the current rules might be a little too harsh. “I don’t think we need to be as strict as we are about it,” she said. “I mean, I understand that it can lead to not-great things if it’s not kept under wraps, but I feel like there’s nothing wrong with giving someone a hug or something. People should be less strict about that kind of thing.”
She still acknowledged that some limits are necessary. “If it gets out of hand, I think a consequence is called for,” Adela added. Her perspective reflects a more moderate stance—allowing for normal, friendly affection while still supporting reasonable boundaries.
Meanwhile, Abby Balbuena defined PDA as “showing affection in public that might make other people uncomfortable.” She also agreed that PDA can have negative effects on the school atmosphere. “It could be a very uncomfortable environment for people to be in,” Abby said, “and sometimes it’s not very necessary to be doing it in school too.”
When asked about the school’s rules, Abby felt that while they are fair, they could be enforced more consistently. “I do think that they are fair rules,” she said, “but I feel like they could be stricter. Instead of just saying, ‘Oh, I’ll just tell them no and stop,’ actually say, ‘No, that’s not good,’ and give them a fair consequence for it.”
Across all three interviews, one thing was clear: students have strong, varied, opinions about PDA. Some, like Markus, believe the rules should be tougher to prevent younger students from being exposed to behavior they might not understand. Others, like Adela, think the rules could be more relaxed, allowing for harmless gestures like hugs or hand-holding. And students like Abby fall somewhere in between, acknowledging that while affection is normal, it should never make others uncomfortable.
Ultimately, the discussion about PDA comes down to balance—finding a middle ground between freedom of expression and maintaining a respectful school environment. As these students show, there isn’t one single right answer. One thing is certain: the conversation around PDA is far from over.
