It’s all in good fun

Why Students Are Scared of Senior Prank

For years, high schoolers have been known for silly senior year shenanigans. Whether it is senior ditch day, or the contagious disease senioritis, fourth year students typically get cut some slack by second semester. Teachers understand the stress of applying to college, and then deciding where to go, and administration is forgiving of our burnt out forgetful brains when it comes to turning in important papers. However, there is one thing administration seemingly won’t let slide — the senior prank.

Now before I get into the various reasons that one class should not ruin the opportunity for future classes to do a senior prank, I will put a disclaimer on this article — OBVIOUSLY, there should be certain parameters for a senior prank in which school rules still apply. We don’t want any students to be injured, we just want a good laugh to look back on.

Back in the 90’s and early 2000’s, school administrations knew senior pranks were bound to occur, and rather than threatening students not to organize one, school staff members created boundaries that the prank must fit within. This concept seems to be a middle ground for students and staff.

While there has been a negative stigma surrounding the senior prank every year, this is due to classes past. Yes, there are problems that have happened due to the senior prank in CHS’s past years. Yes, there could have been injuries to students, and yes that is an undeniable issue. However, this does not mean every class is as immature and concerning.

For example, having a pool party gossip girl style is not comparable to filling solo cups with water and filling the entire quad with them. One is clearly endangering to students, while the other is innocent and all in good fun. If administration created definitive rules for the prank, but allowed students to participate, it would create an opportunity for students to have fun, while staying safe.

Now I know many staff members believe in the phrase “one bad apple ruins the bunch,” meaning one student can turn the entire prank into a negative situation, however I do not believe this should stop the senior class for being able to organize the prank entirely. This message could be applied to any senior event, yet it doesn’t stop senior sunrise, senior sunset, or grad night. There is always a possibility for issues to occur, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we should abandon the tradition as a whole.

Seniors simply want memories. Whether it’s having a bring your pet to school day or parking our cars vertically in the lot as other schools have done, all we ask for is a good laugh to look back on. We don’t want trouble, we just want some fun.