Books, not loving looks; schools ban puppy love

"Schools and parents underestimate our ability to balance relationships and studies. Many couples I know are top students and they encourage each other to study hard," Chen says, adding the rules will destroy the normal interaction between teenagers of the opposite sex.

Lian Lishuang, a consultant with the Chinese Psychological Society, says such rules hinder students' physical and mental development.

"Because of healthier diets, nowadays, teenagers are maturing earlier sexually, and simply stopping the hormonal impulses is a brutal way of handling the issue," Lian says.

Ju Donghong, a sociologist with Jimei University in Xiamen, says the rules were made by people who grew up in a very conservative social environment.

"Today, society is more open and teenage romances are everywhere ... on TV, film and other media, so those who make the rules should keep pace with it and become more open-minded," Ju says.

"Young love is common in middle schools and there are some cases of students' unintended pregnancy and inappropriate public displays of affection," Ju says.

"But, that only shows inadequate sex education in our secondary schools. The schools issuing those rules are really lazy. Instead, they should enhance proper education."

Warren Peltier, a Canadian who once taught English in a middle school in Longyan, Fujian province, says the rule would probably be futile.

"Even if you can force the students to do that, you cannot force them to think that way. Sex-related knowledge should be popularized in schools," Peltier says, adding that young love will not be forbidden in Canadian schools and it is deemed good as it help youngsters socialize and learn how to get along with the opposite sex.

Zheng Huaqiang, an official with the Quanzhou education bureau, says the bureau always promotes communication and guidance in adolescence education and the Juxi Middle School's notice is not feasible.

"Education on sexual psychology and sexual morality is absent in the country's less-developed areas. Secondary schools must fill the void to essentially fix the problem," Zheng says.

While the Xiamen school has dropped the planned regulation, the Quanzhou school has called off the implementation of the rules.

Liao Jianbo, an official in charge of moral education with Juxi Middle School, says the rules only serve as a deterrent to protect the students and the school will try to communicate more with parents and students to patiently help students with young love issues.