Many schools require that if students want to bring in Valentine’s Day cards, they must give one to every classmate. The goal is to ensure no one is left out or has their feelings hurt, but the downside is that it teaches children the wrong lessons.

It would be better to let children figure out by themselves, when they’re old enough, if and how they want to send such cards. If they do want to, parents should encourage them to do so privately and avoid many of the problems with sending them so publicly at school. Schools are overstepping in getting involved in something so personal.