Footscray High School parent says there was a ‘huge amount of mess’ caused by troublemakers
Polystyrene balls, vegemite and lubricant were strewn across Footscray High School before the entire year level was ordered to clean up the mess.
Education
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Muck-up antics continue to plague Victorian schools, with students at Footscray High School camping out on the oval before spreading vegemite, lubricant and polystyrene balls around the campus last week.
One irate parent told the Herald Sun the mess was caused by 10 or so students but the entire cohort of 180 had to clean it up instead of attending graduation events, including a barbecue and jumper presentation.
“The kids went in for their last day of school on Thursday and ended up on their knees cleaning- it was very disappointing for them,” she said.
“The kids felt bad for the cleaners. There was no lasting damage but there was a huge amount of mess.”
She said there was vegemite spread on walls, lubricant smeared in locker keyholes and polystyrene balls on the ground everywhere.
“There was CCTV so they know who did it, so why not punish them and leave everyone else alone?” the parent said.
It comes as principals from state and private schools are reporting a return to 1980s-era muck-up day pranks, with school property being damaged and teachers often left to clean up the mess.
In a number of cases parents have objected to the reaction of school leaders, which have included calling the police, cancelling events and expelling students about to sit exams.
A Department of Education spokesman said Footscray High School was “disappointed by the behaviour of a small number of students on Wednesday evening which led to some damage to school property”.
“This incident does not reflect the behaviour or values of the vast majority of students at the school.”
The school’s graduation event for Year 12 students went ahead as planned on Friday night.
It comes as students from Firbank Grammar were accused of “going too far” with their muck- up day pranks after causing serious damage to cars belonging to Year 12 pupils from a nearby private boy’s school.
Other schools with extensive muck-up issues linked to the class of 2023 include Emmaus College, Marcellin College and Camberwell High School.
Last year, a Scotch College teacher was left with a broken jaw after students in hazmat suits and masks stormed the canteen and spread shaving cream around the campus as part of muck-up day pranks.
This year students are continuing to post muck-up videos, including those at Fountain Gate Secondary College, Mernda Central Secondary College and Loreto College.
Leaders at other schools congratulated their students on their exemplary behaviour throughout the final days of school.
Assistant principal at Lalor Secondary College Laura Forster said her school’s year 12 students “made us all incredibly proud” for the way they enjoyed their Celebrations Day last Friday.
Fountain Gates Secondary College
Mernda Central College P-12
Loreto College
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