high jinks at school
End-of-term celebrations
Published:
HIGH spirits have traditionally marked the last few days of the school year as demob-happy youngsters gear up for life after the classroom.
Those at Banchory Academy appear to have gone a little further than most in celebrating the end of term by turfing their common-room with artificial grass and then enjoying a champagne breakfast in a nearby park.
No one, in the current climate, can condone underage drinking, but it is to be hoped that the school will keep things in perspective and just accept that occasional high jinks are part and parcel of growing up.
Readers' Comments
It’s a shame that the School have taken such action to exclude these 6th Form Pupils for what was a harmless bit of fun. Was it such an act of mindless vandalism? No, they laid some turf on a laminate floor in their own Common Room & the School banned them for the day because of the threat of …. Hay Fever ??? it’s hardly the Andromeda Strain is it ! To be fair these young adults are a credit to their School by exceeding all expectations academically in their Highers & judging by their results in preliminary exams in their Advanced Highers too. So is it so bad that they took the opportunity let off a little steam considering how hard they have worked this year ? This “tradition” with the 6th Form at Banchory Academy is nothing new, the “Champagne” Breakfast on their final day followed by a harmless prank has been going on for years. 5 years ago the 6th Form tried to sell the Academy on Ebay & that never made the papers ! If anyone has to lose it will be Banchory Academy & I’m sure that Sheila De Maio is loving the adverse publicity for her under age drinking 6th Form Yobs who ensure that her school is 2nd in the Country (Scotland). I just feel that the pupils would have appreciated the opportunity to say thank you & deliver presents to their teachers on their final day.
Mark Reith
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The pupils were infact informed that practical jokes and pranks were expected so long as no "permanent" damage was caused and no criminal acts such as vandalism carried out. The laying of turf clearly follows these ground rules as it was simply picked up and removed within the space of half and hour of being layed.. hardly permanent damage there. The way the pupils were treated was disgraceful they were demanded originally that they must be present for first and second period otherwise they would be excluded yet on turning up to the school they were simply screamed at to get out and told their last day was friday. Pupils that were not involved in any drinking or pranks were still thrown out simply fot being in the same year group, on asking on what basis they have to leave the school no answer was given apart from being verbally abused by the teachers shouting at them to leave. A lot of the pupils had spent a lot of time and money into decorating school jumpers and dressing up ready for their exciting final day only to be threatened by teachers and the police. Even on asking to get into their lockers for their school books as from today they are on study leave the answer was still get out of the school no six years are allowed.. clearly showing how little Sheila De Maio actually cares for the exams and well being of the pupils as stated in the article if they weren't even allowed to pick up their books to study. Is it really any wonder why the six years rebelled when they were treated with such injustice-since when was the majority punished for the minoritys actions. Parents phoned up and even went down to the school to complain yet it was all ignored and apparently as the pupils are over sixteen they can kick them out of school whenever they like as they are responsible for themselves.
Elizabeth Macintosh
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I thank the pupils at Banchory for providing me with some light entertainment this morning via a well-planned, well-executed, non-violent and good humoured prank. Unfortunately the teachers seem to suffer not only from acute hayfever but also from a distinct lack of a sense of humour. 'They told us it would cost a fortune to clear up AND EXPOSE EVERYONE TO THE RISKS OF HAYFEVER' Well I wouldn't imagine that it would take any longer clear up the turf than it would take to lay. A couple of hours for a cleaner? Maybe the pupils would have helped if the teachers had asked? All in all, hardly a fortune by any stretch. And 'the risks of hayfever'? Come on... Who do they expect that excuse to cut any ice with? Rather than kicking the pupils out, they should have kept them all locked in the corridors, lest they be exposed to all that evil grass just lurking outside... it's a jungle out there! Admit it teachers, you've been outfoxed. Next time try to teach your pupils the meaning of grace in defeat, rather than throwing a temper tantrum. Banchory has always been a good school and it is a credit to the pupils that they still manage to achieve outstanding results when being taught by such infantile staff. Good luck in your exams!
Patrick Mockridge
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