Senior pranks by Pioneer High School students were disrespectful
I am writing concerning the so-called "pranks" pulled by Pioneer seniors at the two other schools. Haven't these screwballs learned anything in the 13 years they have attended school?
I suppose that the Ann Arbor scene is a "rah, rah" zone with the university and all of its rival universities. Fraternity hazing seems to be accepted as a proper way to introduce college life to the newbies. Painting the big rock is a way of life in Ann Arbor.
Why defecate on the athletic fields? Is that funny or wholesome fun? I think that these yo-yos need to go back into the classroom to learn manners, consideration of others, respect for peers and property, and good taste.
Were I their principals, I would hold off on graduation for these clowns until they could prove that saw the errors of their way. If that caused the poopers to be denied admittance to the college of their choice because of their actions, so be it.
Many of us are working night and day to retain school funding from an unwilling and careless Legislature. To me, it is a slap in the face to all their teachers, past and present, that the students would stoop so low.
I am not asking for much, just a recognition of the efforts made by the parents and community to offer a great Ann Arbor education. Seniors, show some respect for the community, for your parents, and for yourself! And principals, show some backbone to follow through on this life lesson: "When you play, you WILL PAY!”
T.W. Donnelly
Canton
Comments
zip the cat
Mon, May 30, 2011 : 1:45 p.m.
Whats the difference if they kill them with a car driving drunk or shoot them with a gun. They still killed them,my comment says nothing about murder as you refered @jon saalberg And in this county @ Jon saalberg they get PROBATION except for the most recent case where melinda morris finally woke up and gave someone prison. Calling it a prank is absured. I guess its a prank when the dude who killed the ducks with his hummer trashed a police car to the tune of multiple thousands of dollars. Guess who paid for that @MB111 you and I and he got off scott free
winner
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 10:54 p.m.
must have offended some or just hit a sore spot. I guess the truth hurts.
Skyjockey43
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
Just wondering, where do we draw the line for what constitutes a prank in this day and age? I can't remember anyone ever thinking about outright malicious destruction of property as a prank when I was in high school (Huron '85). The worst case I can think of for a school prank was spelling out a foul word on the lawn using grass seed and fertilizer. That's a far cry from thousands of dollars in damage to tennis nets and defecating on school property. So what should we expect from future generations that people will laugh off as simple pranks? Arson? Seems that's the direction we're headed as we give little light slaps to the wrists for these little brats. And for those of you who think I should just relax, let me ask you how you would react if I went to you house and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to your car while dropping a deuce on your perfectly manicured lawn. Come on now, it's just a prank right??
Tony Livingston
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
They were punished. They have to pay restitution and they were suspended from school for the last week. Those who were in sports missed some of the most important games of the season. I think the lesson was learned. As far as the pooping goes, how many students did this? It is possible that it was only 1. Also, many of the students punished were simply sitting in the car and did not participate in any vandalism at all. Pranks have been going on forever. I recall my father talking about the favorite one of his day ..... turning the outhouses over.
TryingToBeObjective
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
Sounds like being an accessory to the crime did not work out.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
these screwballs....these yo-yos ...these clowns... "we won't tolerate jerks. Don't be that guy - avoid comments or posts that are.... offensive, contain personal attacks..."
G2inA2
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
I am confused. Why is everyone blaming the SCHOOLS here? Teachers, administrators, etc. Please put some (or most) of the blame where it belongs. With the PARENTS. Having taught in the AAPS for 20+ years at all three levels, I saw way too many over-privileged students who believe they are in charge of the class and can do as they wish. I would bet a dollar to doughnuts these kids fit that mold.
DFSmith
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
Mr Donnely, guess you never were a young person, once?
Townie
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 1:45 p.m.
'Pranks?' Nope, this stuff was simply vandalism of public property, pure and simple. Juvenile destruction for destruction's sake. Nothing funny or creative about it. Seniors? No. Just immature teenagers acting out. Please grow up and try starting to act like an adult.
snoopdog
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
"Juvenile destruction for destruction's sake. Nothing funny or creative about it." I have to disagree Townie. In all my years, I have never heard of this kind of prank before so I think it was rather creative ! Good Day
zip the cat
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
They do it because they know NOTHING or next to NOTHING will happen to them if they are caught. When the courts in this county give people who kill others PROBATION. Well,Just what kind of punishment do you expect them to get?
debling
Mon, May 30, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
To be clear, Mr. Wahl was charged and convicted with "negligent homicide". This implies the was no "accident", but rather Mr. Wahl was at fault and through negligent conduct, was responsible for the death of Mr. Pincikowski. Penalty for taking someones life from your negligent conduct = probation.
stunhsif
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 10:55 p.m.
debling said: "Coming up to the 2nd anniversary where cyclist Tim Pincikowski was struck and killed by motorist Nicholas Wahl. Sentence = probation." That was a tragic accident, it was not murder. To say otherwise is ridiculous.
MB111
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
@debling - I think he was charged with manslaughter - same effect, much different verison of the crime
debling
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 7 p.m.
@Jon Saalberg Coming up to the 2nd anniversary where cyclist Tim Pincikowski was struck and killed by motorist Nicholas Wahl. Sentence = probation.
Jon Saalberg
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
I would appreciate it if you could cite a Michigan case where a judge sentenced a convicted murderer to probation. I think you will be hard-pressed to find any such occurrence. It would be helpful if your hyperbole contained factual statements. And mentioning such in the same breath as high school pranks is over the top. There is absolutely no comparison between someone who commits murder and these young people. As said in earlier comments on this story, I think there are an awful lot of people who forget that they, too, were once teenagers.
Chip Reed
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
seniors pranks are supposed to be disrespectful. the are anger-driven. if you don't like grown-ups, then don't act like one. when i was a boy, we directed that energy into trying to overthrow the government.
MB111
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
Lighten up. This is a prank. A poor decision and, hopefully, learning experience. Lets focus our energy on preventing potentially life-ending poor decisions (e.g., drinking and driving).
Sallyxyz
Tue, May 31, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
Vandalism is a crime, not a prank.
masticate
Mon, May 30, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
right.. except many of the scavenger hunt tasks involved drinking and inevitably driving.
Skyjockey43
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.
So when I run over to your house and defecate on your front yard, you'll just laugh it off as a harmless prank right?
stunhsif
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 12:41 p.m.
"Why defecate on the athletic fields? Is that funny or wholesome fun?" "Many of us are working night and day to retain school funding from an unwilling and careless Legislature. To me, it is a slap in the face to all their teachers, past and present, that the students would stoop so low." If anything, they didn't do this to dis teachers, they did it to dis athletes at the other two schools. And what on earth does kids pooping on a football field have to do with your "working night and day" to stave off the evil-doers in Lansing, enough already !
OHHIO
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
Sounds to me like T.W. never had the same school spirit that the pranksters have...too bad. In my opinion, I think the students did learn a lot in their years of school...their days of being able to act like kids is almost over. Why not take advantage of that time and do something a little crazy? The folks in Lansing don't care if students pull end of the year prank...at least they shouldn't care.
DFSmith
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Yeah, what does a stupid prank have to do with "working day and night to retain school funding" If these kids didnt learn anything good in 12 years in school, maybe it was due to the piss-poor job that incompetent , unionized teachers and administrators do?
Sallyxyz
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
These acts were criminal acts, far beyond disrespectful. The perps should have been arrested, just like anyone else who would have committed these criminal acts of vandalism. Slaps on the wrist do not deter future criminal behavior. Just the opposite. Slaps perpetrate the illusion that any future criminal act will be dismissed "because I'm really a good kid."