School institutes no-clapping policy

A school in Sydney, Australia, has implemented a no-clapping policy.

News.com.au is reporting that Elanora Heights Public School introduced the change in its July 18 newsletter with a piece titled, "Did you know that our school has adopted silent cheers at assemblies?"

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It states, in part, that "Instead of clapping, the students are free to punch the air, pull excited faces and wriggle about on the spot."

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Teachers will be the ones to initiate the silent cheer which is promoted as "a great way to expend children's energy and reduce fidgeting."

The newsletter goes on to explain that "this practice has been adopted to respect members of our school community who are sensitive to noise."

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Education Department points out that the new policy was instituted to "...minimise discomfort to a teacher with a hearing disability that causes acute sensitivity to loud noise."

He also says that the practice will be observed during occasional assemblies, but at other school events, there are no restrictions on clapping and cheering.