Cricket Prank Bans Seniors From Graduation

Students protest graduation ban

Seven kids at East Carter High School in Grayson, Kentucky thought it would be funny to release10,000 crickets in their school last Thursday morning as a senior prank. Unfortunately, school administrators didn't get the humor. According to local WSAZ News, the seniors were not allowed to walk in their graduation ceremony on Saturday morning and will not receive their diplomas until they each pay a $600 fine.

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Some of the pranksters' classmates came to their defense, "We've been to school with them since we were in diapers. It's not fair to us to not have them there with us," senior Alissa Lawson told WSAZ during a student protest on Friday night. Dozens of seniors chanted, "Let them walk [in graduation]" and held signs in support of the "Cricket Clan." Kentucky state Senator Robin Webb, who once served as class president for East Carter High School, called the decision "overreaching" given that the kids had never had any disciplinary issues before.

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However, officials witCrickets in high school hallh the Carter County School District were not amused. "Expenses will continue to rise as cleanup efforts are still underway," Principal Larry Kaiser said in a statement. "It is the stance of the Carter County School District that these actions, while meant to be a prank of sorts, are unacceptable." He added that the bugs had skittled into the school's nooks and crannies and that an expensive exterminator would have to be brought in. Kaiser did not respond to Yahoo!Shine's request for an interview.

It turns out this isn't the first time seniors have pulled a cricket prank—it's not even the first time this graduation season. In late April, Fox8 reported that seniors at Brush High School in Lyndhurst, Ohio released crickets and also mice in the cafeteria (because is there anything more hilarious than insects and rodents invading a food-prep area?). They also painted school windows and decorated trees with toilet paper. A cricket trick in 2010, carried out in the middle of the night, led to a student's arrest for burglary (as have numerous other pranks that either occurred after school hours orcaused damage to school property.)

Senior pranks have become a rite of passage at many schools probably encouraged by YouTube where you can watch endless videos of amusing and not-so-amusing stunts. One popular practical joke involves packing common areas with thousands of full cups of water. The Brentwood Academy class of 2007 managed to set up 17,000 styrofoam cups in their hallway. Foil-wrapping (chairs, desk, whole rooms) is another go-to trick. Students at Stafford High School in Virginia wrapped their retiring principal's SUV in foil. Luckily he had a sense of humor.

Unfortunately, many popular pranks are destructive, have the potential to cause injury, and might lead to suspension or other disciplinary action. School administrators may not find it so hilarious when seniors drop thousands of bouncy balls into the lobby or release three goats or piglets into the school numbered "1," "2," and "4."  Note to seniors who actually want to graduate: Think costumes, bubbles, and balloons, not live animals, tacks, or super glue. In a harmless though effective gag carried out by one high school class, the kids all put alarm clocks set for the same timein their lockers. 

A Tumblr devoted to senior pranks offers this inspiration: "The whole class will be wearing Crocs and Miranda Cosgrove masks." Now, that's funny.