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April 7, 2009
by Ilham Awad and Cody Bates
Although pranks may be hilarious and entertaining, being involved in playing one can lead to different types of consequences. April Fool’s Day tricks and pranks in general entertain many people. Is it really worth the risk just for a few chuckles? Although some practical jokes can be funny, they can also be harmful or embarrassing. The disrupting or damaging jokes are the ones that result in the action of facing punishment.
Consequences range from being lectured to expulsion to restitution, or the payment for damages. The possibility of receiving these punishments are often ignored when pranks are being planned out and put into action.
“People don’t get caught often, and the school has to pay restitution for any pranks that damage the school,” assistant principal Sean Moffatt said.
It is a school tradition for the senior class to pull pranks on the rest of the school, but within the last couple of years, these senior pranks have been more destructive than those of the past years.
“The biggest prank I’ve seen was when the senior class [of 2008] flipped the senior bench and tried to tape it to the ground,” Moffatt said.
The same class succeeded in putting the bench on the top of a storage unit. No one was caught or punished for these pranks. Principal Linda Fernandez feels strongly about the practical jokes that involve the moving of school property because they could affect pranksters, their parents, administrators and victims alike.
“We are very serious about any prank that would pose a safety hazard for any students or staff,” Fernandez said.
April Fool’s Day may bring entertainment and laughter, but senior pranks are generally more serious, and students who pull them risk the possibility of not graduating. Although Fernandez understands that senior pranks may be entertaining, she believes that there are far more important things than getting a laugh out of foolishness.
“Pranks are not worth risking one of the most memorable moments of your life,” Fernandez said.
In 2001, six students almost jeopardized their graduation when they drove several unauthorized vehicles filled with students, and parked them behind the amphitheater. In lieu of a five-day suspension, the students were required to complete 40 hours of community service that summer. They were fortunate to walk during graduation, but did not receive their diplomas until after they finished their community service hours.
“Students need to think of the effect this has on the family. Graduation is just as important to them,” Fernandez said.
In addition, students can be expelled for vandalizing hateful, racist or sexist words or images onto public property. Any personal and harmful jokes can get people into trouble. As a result, students would have to pay for any damages.
“I think more peer to peer jokes are played during April Fool’s, not students on the school,” Moffatt said. “The tricks aren’t intended to cause any real damage. I think they’re [pranksters] are just trying to get attention.”
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