Lollipop man in the UK banned from high-fiving students

School crossing patrol.
School crossing patrol. Photo credit: Getty

A lollipop man has been banned by a Scottish primary school from giving high-fives to students as he helps them cross the street. 

Jim Hewitson, used to be a farmer but ten years ago swapped the gumboots for the lollipop stick and has been a crossing patroller ever since. 

Many young students at Galston Primary, East Ayrshire, have happily been giving the 59-year-old father of two high-fives for years, reported the Daily Record, but last week they were told by the school to stop. 

Parents in the community were outraged to be sent out an official message from the school which told them to tell their children to "stop giving Jim or his road crossing sign a high five when he takes them across the road."

The message sent to parents from the school.
The message sent to parents from the school. Photo credit: Joe Hutchinson/Deadline News

"A complaint has been made to the council about this behaviour and Jim has asked us to make parents aware of this to avoid any further complaints," the message said. 

Gail Mcfarlane was one of the many parents who took to social media to criticise the message, reports the Daily Record. 

"Poor Jim is going to be so disheartened by this. Everything he does is for the kids."

Shop worker, Colin Anderson, 37, told the Daily Record outside the school that  "It is absolute nonsense, a total disgrace."

The Daily Record reported East Ayrshire Council distanced themselves from the message sent by the school.

Spokesman Andrew Kennedy said: "I would clarify that the crossing patroller was not officially instructed to stop the young people high fiving him."