What’s appropriate regarding a teacher touching a student?

Not appropriate at all at that age. Someone (not necessarily you) should raise it with the teacher and the touching should stop. His job could be in jeopardy otherwise.

This doesn’t sound innocent to me. I wonder if the boy is uncomfortable with the attention? Being eccentric doesn’t give the teacher a pass to be inappropriate. He needs to be reported or at least told he is inappropriate.

From the description, I would call it inappropriate. Take a video of it next time. Show it to a councilor. Let them be the judge.

Nope, not okay. No touching.

To be honest, I find it pretty harmless. No erogenous/near erogenous body part is being touched. If touching shoulders, etc is inappropriate in Western society then hugging should also be the same, otherwise it’ll be hypocritical.

The only way for anyone to have a valid proof and reasoning that such act would be considered as “invasion of privacy” is when the boy himself rejected such physical interaction or if he showed any reliable sign of discomfort.

Touching a back or arm is pretty harmless in and of itself. However, if the teacher is only doing it to this one child, that gets creepy real fast. It sounds like the teacher is getting a crush on this kid.

@CathyH What you describe is not appropriate.