Muckup fears cancels class

By Paul Dunlop
FEARS that final day festivities could get out of hand prompted Pakenham Secondary College last week to tell senior students not to turn up.
The decision to cancel year 12 classes last Thursday prompted some students to claim they felt they had been ‘robbed’ of their last day of school, but college leaders defended the move.
The risk that celebrations could escalate into muckup day mayhem prompted college leaders to decide it was better to be safe than sorry.
Assistant principal Emmanual Merambeliotis said there had been concerns about an unhealthy mood spreading around the school as senior students prepared to mark the end of their secondary education.
“You expect a bit of mucking around but concerns had been expressed about the example that could be set for the younger students,” he said.
“It was a tough decision but we decided to get on the front foot.
“There is a difference between having a bit of fun and a mentality that just because you are finishing school you get to do whatever you like and if that means trashing the place, ‘so be it’.”
Students were given a letter to take home on Wednesday evening advising parents that the following day would be a study day and that they would not be required at school.
Students were back at the school on Friday for a farewell assembly and barbecue.
Some year 12s, who did not wish to be named, told the News they felt they had been denied the traditional end to their high school days.
“We felt robbed,” one student said.
“Everybody had been looking forward to the last day of school, we missed counting down to the last class.
“You’ve always got some idiots saying ‘we’re going to do this’ but usually it’s all talk.
“It was very disappointing, we felt like we were being punished before we’d done anything wrong.”
The spectre of year 12 students creating havoc has been a talking point around the state over the past week with schools — and police — around Victoria warning that misbehaviour would not be tolerated.
Mr Merambeliotis said college teachers had a responsibility of care that spread to the entire school community.
He said the decision had not been made lightly and emphasised that Pakenham’s class of 2005 was still given an official farewell.
“We had a school assembly on Friday for the year 12s, there was a staffstudent barbecue and that went really well.
“The kids signed each other’s uniforms, had a bit of fun and it was a positive note on which to finish the year.”
Mr Merambeliotis said the college would review the situation and raised the possibility that the next year 12 students might be taken as a group on an excursion or have some other get together.
“Once the kids finish their exams we might have a less formal gathering,” he said.
“We were trying to prevent the possibility of any problems occurring and so we had to make a difficult decision,” he said.