Teaneck Turmoil

Who hasn't dreamed of breaking into their least favourite teacher's classroom and covering the bitch's desk with a torrent of steamy hot acidic piss? Me neither but I have to commend the students of Teaneck High School in New Jersey who went to the effort of breaking into the premises after hours to wreak havoc within.

Yes it was juvenile, unnecessary, criminal and, particularly where the 18 year old students are concerned, mind numbingly stupid but nonetheless there is something fairly visionary about the lengths these young people went to. From an employer's point of view, they proved they could plan and organise an event, turn up on time, bring the necessary equipment and dress appropriately.

Of course the predictably disapproving media branded the night's events unacceptable, filling their reports with snide comments about a 'night to remember gone wrong'. To me though, the one thing that really stands out about this story is the students' willingness to put effort into something they hadn't been asked to do.

Its certainly a sign that the school wasn't being run very well. Just compare this to the students of Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, who united in support of the institution after the death of Spanish teacher Anne Maguire. While the two situations are far from identical, it was students, not teachers who expressed pride in having attended while talking to the press.

No that's not an excuse for 38 children and 24 adults to run around their school at night upturning desks, filling the corridors with balloons, smearing vaseline on doorknobs and writing their names on the walls. I've just experienced far too many staff in the education sector coax through their careers without making the slightest effort to nurture the type of talent which could either result in a student progressing into a promising and successful career or lead to a life of crime and vandalism. Condemn this stunt all you want, at least it was creative.