Several Chinese middle schools have decided to snip young romances in the bud with the establishment of new rules for their students.

In some cases, the rules can be quite vague. For instance, one school rule simply states that there can be no “close interaction” between students regardless of gender.

The rules at another school are stated more clearly. There, students of different sexes may not be within 50 centimeters of one another. Moreover, boys and girls are strictly forbidden from traveling in pairs.

The rules were created out of concern that middle school students suffer academically when they are involved in relationships.

Not all are in agreement with the new rules. Some have called them “ridiculous” and even “barbaric.”