![Abi09](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Abi09.JPG)
A senior prank, also known as muck-up day in Australia and the United Kingdom, is a type of organized
prank
A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.Marsh, Moira. 2015. ''Practically Joking''. Logan: Utah State University Press. ...
by the
senior class of a school, college, or university. They are often carried out at or near the end of the
academic year and are part of school traditions. While most senior pranks are harmless, more severe pranks can include damage to school property and other crimes, which can result in disciplinary or even legal repercussions against the perpetrators.
Common pranks
Common senior pranks include but are not limited to:
* Adopting unusual or fancy dress, especially at schools with strict uniform policies
* Using
water pistols,
stink bombs,
water balloons, or
shaving cream
Shaving cream or shave cream is a category of cream cosmetics used for shaving preparation. The purpose of shaving cream is to soften the hair by providing lubrication.
Different types of shaving creams include aerosol shaving cream (also kn ...
, on each other or on teachers
* Issuing fake announcements over the
public address system
A public address system (or PA system) is an electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment. It increases the apparent volume (loudness) of a human voice, musical instrument, or other acoustic sound sou ...
* Starting barbecues in unusual places
* Imposing parking levies on the staff car park
* Issuing staff with detentions or uniform infringements
* Putting small
polystyrene balls in the air conditioning, thus making it 'snow' in the building
* Chalk graffiti
* Filling elevators with hay or spreading bird seed in the staff parking lot to attract birds that then deconstruct the cars
* Setting up tents and making it appear that the seniors had camped overnight on school grounds
* Having a party in a faculty/underclassmen parking lot to confuse the parking situation
Responses
Incidents such as graffiti, vandalism or harming other students are dealt with in a number of ways, as the students despite finishing school have not yet graduated and, in the case of students enrolled in academic subjects, have yet to sit their exams. In extreme cases, or those involving non-students who turn up on the day, the police may be called. Some schools announce a day off for the rest of the school, while others conduct an assembly to formally farewell the final-year students during the day's events.
By region
United States
![Dining Hall (14836414)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Dining_Hall_%2814836414%29.jpg)
The practice has been banned within some schools in the United States, and replaced with formal leaving activities to ensure students do not commit crimes or vandalise school or other property.
United Kingdom
In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, muck-up days are common in
independent schools
An independent school is independent in its finances and governance. Also known as private schools, non-governmental, privately funded, or non-state schools, they are not administered by local, state or national governments. In British Eng ...
and
state schools, and members of staff (particularly grounds staff and porters) often unofficially assist the perpetrators. Examples of such traditions include stealing the school's clocks as makeshift trophies or removing styluses for interactive whiteboards.
Australia
In
Australia, muck-up days are a common practice in many schools, although their nature has evolved over the years such that activities are usually pre-approved by staff (e.g., a year coordinator) and may not harm staff, students or property. At
Scotch College in
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...
, the Year 12 boys' valedictory dinner was cancelled by the school after some students vandalised and ran partially naked through two nearby girls' schools.
[{{cite news , last=Catanzaro , first=Joseph , date=17 October 2009 , title=College cancels dinner after muck up day antics , work=]The West Australian
''The West Australian'' is the only locally edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia. It is owned by Seven West Media (SWM), as is the state's other major newspaper, '' The Sunday Times''. It is the second-oldest continuous ...
, url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6229407/college-cancels-dinner-after-muck-up-day-antics/
See also
*
Capping stunt
A capping stunt or capping is a New Zealand university tradition of student pranks wherein students perpetrate hoaxes or practical jokes upon an unsuspecting population. They traditionally take place in May during graduation.
Capping stunts ha ...
*
Practical joke
**
List of practical joke topics
This is a list of practical joke topics (also known as a prank, gag, jape or shenanigan) which are mischievous tricks or jokes played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.
Pr ...
*
Skip Day
Skip Day (also called Senior Day, Senior Skip Day, Ditch Day, Senior Ditch Day, Cut Day, or Senior Cut Day) is a tradition in American schools where students in the senior class skip school. It is commonly held the school day following senior p ...
*
Student prank
A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.Marsh, Moira. 2015. ''Practically Joking''. Logan: Utah State University Press. ...
References
Annual events in Australia
Events in Australia
Prank
A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.Marsh, Moira. 2015. ''Practically Joking''. Logan: Utah State University Press. ...
Traditions