Banned on campus:
Boys talking to girls

Virtually every student who has ever attended school has heard the phrase, "No talking in class."

Now, an elementary school in southern Oregon has taken that proscription a step further, by banning all conversation between boys and girls.

6th-grade girls protest (Photo: Herald and News)

The silent fury began last week when 6th-grade teacher Mary Bond at Peterson Elementary School noticed students showing public signs of affection during lunch recess, reports the Klamath Falls Herald and News.

So, to prevent nature from running its course, she banned all discourse between boys and girls, at least temporarily.

"It was not a disciplinary measure," principal Jim Smith told the paper. "It was a preventative measure."

But two 12-year-old students didn't see it that way. Sarah Manes and Hannah Guerrero viewed the ban as an assault on their freedom of speech, especially when they were outside of class at recess.

"Hannah called Sarah and said, 'We gotta do something,''' Sarah's mother Esther Manes said.

So, the girls did what many Americans do when they feel their rights are being trampled on – they organized a protest.

A total of nine classmates gathered outside the school this week, picket signs in hand, to let school officials know they weren't about to pipe down.

"The girls got a big response," said Esther Manes. "Parents were asking questions. I am so proud of my daughter. The hardest part was to walk into that school after protesting like that. She stood up for herself. I think she learned something important."

Once students and faculty arrived on campus Monday, the picketers handed a letter of complaint to the principal.

Smith says no disciplinary action would be taken against the protesters, and he's willing to hear any complaints from students and parents.

"They have every right to protest," he said.